'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎139] (194/905)

CHAP. VII.] PEOPLE OF SHIRVAN—LANGUAGES, ETC.
139
commercial importance, and so very extensive, that previous Ancient
to the great earthquake of 1176, it contained 40,000 houses. cai),ta1 '
Old writers call it Kamakhia; but the inhabitants distinguish
it by the name of Keghkna Chagher (the ancient city).
The new capital was founded by Nadir Khan in 1734: it
was razed by Fetti-Ali Khan in 1766, but it was rebuilt in
1777 ; and since 1805, it has been subject to Russia. 1
Nearly two miles westward of Shamahkee are the remark- Ruins of Ki*.
able ruins of Kiz-Kal'ah, whose walls occupy the summit of ^ al ah '
an isolated rock, shaped like a truncated cone. In this are
some ancient galleries, and a remarkable cave, 49 feet long by
21 feet wide, and 7 feet deep, which probably was excavated
at a remote period. Tradition assigns Kiz-Kal'ah (Castle of
the Virgin) to the ancient chiefs of Shirvan ; for whom, as
well as their harems, it served as a retreat in case of invasion,
and likewise during the oppressive heat of summer. 8
The eastern or champagne portion of Talish contains many Taiish.
villages, as Khizilaghatche Arkivan, Alvadi, Badalane, Ali
Abate, &c.; but not being drained, these places are unhealthy.
The capital itself, Lenkoran, is merely a dirty village, with
422 houses for the Muhammedan people, and 48 for the
Armenians; but all are badly built. Besides one mosque,
there are two bazaars, and a superior class of buildings, which
have been constructed in the vicinity for the Russian autho
rities. As the roadstead is shallow and unsafe, Sara is now
the port of Talish; and being sheltered by the island of that
name, and deep as well as commodious, it is the principal
station of the Russian war flotilla on the Caspian Sea.
The inhabitants of Shirvan consist of bekris, or nobles, Population of
priests, merchants, artisans, cultivators, and shepherds ; and, 811,1 va "-
lastly, the nomadic tribes, who amount to one-fourth of an
aggregate population of 256,581 souls, 3 descended chiefly from
Tartar, Persian, Armenian, and Hebrew stocks. The Jews are
few, and the Armenian Christians scarcely number one-tenth
of the Muhammedans, who are generally of the Sunnie creed.
1 Aper^u, &c., Tome III., p. 145 to 149.
2 Ibid.
3 Including 100,302 in Sheki.-—Ibid, p. 61 to 99, and 352, &c.
T 2