LESGUIS, a people of Asia, whose country is
indifferently called by the Georgians Lesguistan and
Daghestan. It is bounded to the south and east by
Persia and the Caspian, to the south-west and west by
Georgia, the Ossi, and Kifti, and to the north by the
Kifti and Tartar tribes. It is divided into a variety
of districts, generally independent, and governed by
chiefs elected by the people. Guldenstaedt has re-
marked, in the Lesguis language, eight different dia-
lects, and has called their tribes in conformity to this
observation.
The first dialect comprehends 15 tribes, which are
as follow: 1. Avar, in Georgian Chunfagh. The
chief of this district, commonly called Avar-Khan, is
the most powerful prince of Lesguistan, and resides at
Kabuda, on the river Kaseruk. The village of Avar
is, in the dialect of Andi, called Harbul. 2. Kase-
ruk, in the high mountains, extending along a branch
of the Koifu, called Karak. This district is depend-
ent on the Khan of the Kasi Kumychs. 3. Idatle,
on the Koifu, joining on the Andi; subject to the A-
var Khan. 4. Mukratle, situated on the Karak,
and subject to the Avan Khan. 5. Onsekul, subject to
the same, and situated on the Koifu. 6. Karaklile,
upon the Karak, below Kaseruk, subject to the same.
7. Ghumbet, on the river Ghumbet, that joins the
Koifu, subject to the chief of the Koumyks. 8. A-
rakan; and, 9. Burtuma, on the Koifu. 10. Ant-
fugh, on the Samura, subject to Georgia. 11. Te-
bel, on the same river, independent. 12. Tamurgi,
or Tumural, on the same river. 13. Akhti; and,
14. Rutar, on the same. 15. Dshar, in a valley that
runs from the Alazan to the Samura. It was formerly
subject to Georgia, but is now independent. In
this district are seen remains of the old wall that
begins at Derbent, and probably terminates at the A-
lazian.—The inhabitants of Derbent believe that their
town was built by Alexander, and that this wall for-
merly extended as far as the Black Sea. It is, how-
ever, probable, from many inscriptions in old Turkish,
Persian, Arabic, and Russian characters, that the wall,
and the aqueducts with their various subterranean pas-
sages, many of which are now filled up, are of high
antiquity. This town suffered greatly during its siege
by Sultan Amurath, who entirely destroyed the lower
quarter, then inhabited by Greeks. It was again ta-
ken by Schach Abbas. (Gaerber). This town is
the old Pylæ Caspiæ.
The second dialect is spoken in the two following
districts: 1. Dido, or Didonli, about the source of
the Samura. This district is rich in mines: a ridge
of uninhabited mountains divides it from Caket. 2.
Unso, on the small rivulets that join the Samura.
These two districts, containing together about 1000
families, were formerly subject to Georgia, but are
now independent.
The third dialect is that of Kabutsh, which lies on
the Samura rivulets, east of Dido, and north of Ca-
ket.
The fourth dialect is that of Andi, situated on a
rivulet that runs into the Koifu. Some of its villages
are subject to the Avar Khan, but the greater part to
the khan of Axai. The whole consists of about 800
families.
The fifth dialect is common to four districts, name-
ly, 1. Akusha, on the Koifu, subject to the Usinei,
or khan of the Caitaks, and Kara-Caitaks, containing
about 1000 families. The following custom is attri-
buted by Colonel Gaerber to the subjects of this
prince: "Whenever the Usinei has a son, he is carried
round from village to village, and alternately suckled
by every woman who has a child at her breast until he
is weaned. This custom, by establishing a kind of
brotherhood between the prince and his subjects, sin-
gularly endears them to each other." 2. Balkar. 3. Zu-
dakara, or Zudakh, down the Koifu, subject to the
Usinei. 4. Kubeshia, near the Koifu. Colonel Ga-
erber, who wrote an account of these countries in
1728, gives the following description of this very cu-
rious place: "Kubeshia is a large strong town, situa-
ted on a hill between high mountains. Its inhabitants
call themselves Franki (Franks, a name common in the
east to all Europeans), and relate, that their ancestors
were brought hither by some accident, the particulars
of which are now forgotten. The common conjecture
is, that they were mariners cast away upon the coast;
but those who pretend to be better versed in their his-
tory, tell the story this way:—The Greeks and Ge-
noe, say they, carried on, during several centuries,
a considerable trade, not only on the Black sea, but
likewise on the Caspian, and were certainly acquainted
with the mines contained in these mountains, from
which they drew by their trade with the inhabitants
great quantities of silver, copper, and other metals.
In order to work these upon the spot, they sent hither
a number of workmen to establish manufactures, and
instruct the inhabitants. The subsequent invasions of
the Arabs, Turks, and Mongols, during which the
mines were filled up, and the manufactures abandon-
ed, prevented the strangers from effecting their return,
so that they continued here, and erected themselves
into a republic. What renders this account the more
probable is, that they are still excellent artists, and
make very good fire-arms, as well rifled as plain;
fabrics, coats of mail, and several articles in gold
and silver, for exportation. They have likewise, for their
own defence, small copper cannons, of three pounds
calibre, cast by themselves. They coin Turkish and
Persian silver money, and even rubles, which readily
pass current, because they are of the full weight and
value.
value. In their valleys they have pasture and arable lands, as well as gardens; but they purchase the greater part of their corn, trusting chiefly for support to the sale of their manufactures, which are much admired in Persia, Turkey, and the Crimea. They are generally in good circumstances, are a quiet, inoffensive people, but high spirited, and independent. Their town is considered as a neutral spot, where the neighbouring princes can deposit their treasures with safety. They elect yearly twelve magistrates, to whom they pay the most unlimited obedience; and as all the inhabitants are on a footing of perfect equality, each individual is sure to have in his turn a share in the government. In the year 1725, their magistrates, as well as the Usmei, acknowledged the sovereignty of Russia, but without paying any tribute." 5. Zudakara, or Zadakh, down the Koifu, subject to the Usmei. It contains about 2000 families.
The sixth dialect belongs to the districts on the eastern slope of Caucasus, between Tarku and Derbent, which are, 1. Caitak; and 2. Tabassaran, or Kara-Caitak, both subject to the Usmei.
The seventh dialect is that of Kasi-Coumyk, on a branch of the Konisu, near Zudakara. This tribe has a khan, whose authority is recognised by some neighbouring districts.
The eighth dialect is that of Kuracle, belonging to the khan of Cuba.
Besides these, there are some other Lesguis tribes, whose dialects Mr Guldenstaedt was unable to procure. From a comparison of those which he has obtained, it appears that the language of the Lesguis has no kind of affinity with any other known language, excepting only the Samoyede, to which it has a remote resemblance.
This people is probably descended from the tribes of mountaineers, known to ancient geographers under the name of Lesges, or Liges. The strength of their country, which is a region of mountains, whose passes are known only to themselves, has probably at all times secured them from foreign invasion; but as the same cause must have divided them into a number of tribes, independent of each other, and perhaps always distinguished by different dialects, it is not easy to imagine any common cause of union which can ever have assembled the whole nation, and have led them to undertake very remote conquests. Their history, therefore, were it known, would probably be very uninteresting to us. They subsist by raising cattle, and by predatory expeditions into the countries of their more wealthy neighbours. During the troubles in Persia, towards the beginning of this century, they repeatedly sacked the towns of Shamachie and Ardabil, and ravaged the neighbouring districts; and the present wretched state of Georgia and of part of Armenia, is owing to the frequency of their incursions. In their persons and dress, and in their general habits of life, as far as these are known to us, they greatly resemble the Circassian.