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 Oss, 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. Guldenthaedt has remarked, in the Lesguis language, eight different dialects, and has classified their tribes in conformity to this observation.

The first dialect comprehends 15 tribes, which are as follow: 1. Avar, in Georgian Chunagh. The chief of this district, commonly called Avar-Khan, is the most powerful prince of Lesguistan, and resides at Kabuda, on the river Kaferuk. The village of Avar is, in the dialect of Andi, called Harbul. 2. Kaferuk, in the high mountains, extending along a branch of the Koifu, called Karak. This district is dependent on the Khan of the Kafi Kumychs. 3. Idatile, on the Koifu, joining on the Andi; subject to the Avar Khan. 4. Mukrate, situated on the Karak, and subject to the Avan Khan. 5. Oniskul, subject to the same, and situated on the Koifu. 6. Karakhle, upon the Karak, below Kaferuk, subject to the same. 7. Ghumbet, on the river Ghumbet, that joins the Koifu, subject to the chief of the Coumyks. 8. Arakan; and, 9. Burtuma, on the Koifu. 10. Antfugh, on the Samura, subject to Georgia. 11. Tebel, on the same river, independent. 12. Tamurgi, or Tumural, on the same river. 13. Akhti; and, 14. Rutal, 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 Alazan.—The inhabitants of Derbent believe that their town was built by Alexander, and that this wall formerly extended as far as the Black Sea. It is, however, probable, from many inscriptions in old Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Ruthen characters, that the wall, and the aqueducts with their various subterraneous passages, 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 taken by Schach Abbas. (Gaerber). This town is the old Pylae 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. Unfo, 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 Kabutsk, which lies on the Samura rivulets, east of Dido, and north of Caket.

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, namely, 1. Akufsha, on the Koifu, subject to the Ufmei, or khan of the Caitaks, and Kara-Caitaks, containing about 1000 families. The following custom is attributed by Colonel Gaerber to the subjects of this prince: "Whenever the Ufmei 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, singularly endears them to each other;" 2. Balkar. 3. Zudakara, or Zudakh, down the Koifu, subject to the Ufmei. 4. Kubeshia, near the Koifu. Colonel Gaerber, who wrote an account of these countries in 1728, gives the following description of this very curious place: "Kubeshia is a large strong town, situated 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 history, tell the story this way:—The Greeks and Genoese, 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 Monguls, during which the mines were filled up, and the manufactures abandoned, 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 firearms, as well rifled as plain; sabres, 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 Ufmei, acknowledged the sovereignty of Russia, but without paying any tribute." 5. Zudakara, or Zadakh, down the Koifu, subject to the Ufmei. 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. Tabasseran, or Kara-Caitak, both subject to the Ufmei.

The seventh dialect is that of Kasi-Coumyk, on a branch of the Konifa, near Zudakara. This tribe has a khan, whose authority is recognized by some neighbouring districts.

The eighth dialect is that of Kuraele, belonging to the khan of Cuba.

Besides these, there are some other Lefguis tribes, whose dialects Mr Guldenfaedt was unable to procure. From a comparison of those which he has obtained, it appears that the language of the Lefguis 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 Lefge, or Ligyes. 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 Shamachis and Ardebil, 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.