44. Next occur the communities of the Suiones,  244 seated in the very Ocean,  245 who, besides their strength in men and arms, also possess a naval force.  246 The form of their vessels differs from ours in having a prow at each end,  247 so that they are always ready to advance. They make no use of sails, nor have regular benches of oars at the sides: they row, as is practised in some rivers, without order, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, as occasion requires. These people honor wealth;  248 for which reason they are subject to monarchical government, without any limitations,  249 or precarious conditions of allegiance. Nor are arms allowed to be kept promiscuously, as among the other German nations: but are committed to the charge of a keeper, and he, too, a slave. The pretext is, that the Ocean defends them from any sudden incursions; and men unemployed, with arms in their hands, readily become licentious. In fact, it is for the king's interest not to entrust a noble, a freeman, or even an emancipated slave, with the custody of arms.