'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.' [‎131] (184/905)

CHAP. VII.] DA'GHESTA'N, EXTENT, ETC.
131
of several parallel ridges, running in an east-south-easterly its geology
-direction from thence to the shores of the Caspian. It is
composed of granite and porphyry, flanked by schistus and
ridges of limestone, pierced, as usual, by numerous water
courses. 1 Towards the eastern extremity inferior branches
are sent, in different directions, into Persia, whilst other off
sets, from the opposite extremity, either skirt the shores of
the Black Sea or enter Armenia; and one of the latter, but
of inferior elevation, may be said to connect this vast chain
with the mountains of Ararat.
The territory contains extensive plains and well-cultivated Soil, &c., of
valleys, and, generally speaking, it has a rich soil, which is Georgia '
amply watered by the rivers draining the basins eastward and
westward of the summit level in Central Armenia. But
owing chiefly to the irregularity of the surface within the
limited space of 3° 45' of latitude, an extraordinary difference
of temperature is experienced ; some parts being covered with
snow, whilst others, within 50 miles, yield the products of a
tropical climate. 2
Daghestan occupies the north-eastern extremity of the Extent of
territory, filling up the space from the crests of the Caucasus 31)aghestan '
to the shores of the Caspian, 4 and from the borders of Shirvan
to the river Terek ; an extent of 2° 50' in latitude. Within
these limits are included the districts of Baku, Kuba, Der-
bend, Tarku, Karakaitakh, and Tabasseran, which, together,
give a superficies amounting to nearly 5996 square miles,
and consisting partly of plains, but chiefly of mountains, as
the name itself signifies. 5
Daghestan is covered with mountain peaks belonging to
the numerous offsets from the Caucasus; these separate deep
valleys as they traverse the province in a south-easterly direc
tion towards the plains lying along the Caspian Sea. They
1 Voyage autour du Caucase, &c., par Frederic Dubois de Mont P^reux.
Paris, 1839. Tome I., p. 56.
2 Aperiju des Possessions Russes au-dela du Caucase, &c., Tome I., pp. 29
to 31.
3 In 41° 5' E. longitude. 4 In 50° 19' 10" E. longitude.
8 From the Tartar words, Tdgh, mountain, and Stdn, country.—Ogilby's
Asia, p. 39, and Apenju, &c., Tome IV., pp. 187 to 195.
s 2