1803, there was added the Khânat of Gandja (Elizabeth-
pol).1 _
At the close of the Persian war in 1813, the Khanats of
Sheki, Shirvân, Karâbâgh, Talish, Baku and Derbend were
also annexed to the Russian empire.8 Again, by the treaty
of Turkman-chaï, Persia ceded the territory northward of the
river Aras ; and, finally, by that of Adrianople, in 1829,
Russia obtained the pâshâlik of Akhltskhaï, with the castles
and some districts hitherto retained contrary to the stipulations
made at Akerman in 1826.
The districts thus acquired at the northern extremity of
Fran now form the separate government of Georgia, or Grusia,
as the principal province is called by the Russians. The
country has nearly the figure of a lozenge, or, more properly,
a rhomboid ; it lies chiefly southward of the Caucasus, between
the Black and Caspian Seas, having around it the territories
of Persia and Asiatic Turkey. Its greatest length, from
Astara3 to the banks of the Terek, or Kuma,4 is about 280
geographical miles ; and its width, from the coast of Abasia6
to the southern side of the peninsula of Apsheron,6 is 417
geographical miles ; and it has a superficies of 56,007 square
miles.7
It is intersected by numerous offsets from the Caucasian
range, which forms the natural line of separation between
Europe and Asia. This stupendous chain presents, along
the Black Sea, a succession of lofty peaks, which rise to the
height of 12,000 or 13,000 feet ;8 and, with the exception of
three difficult passes, it forms an unbroken barrier, consisting
1 Aperçu, &e., Tome I., p. 216, &c. 8 Ibid.
8 In 38° 23' N. latitude, the extreme southern limits as fixed by the Treaty
of Turkman-chàï, April 2, 1828. 4 In 43° 50' N. latitude.
5 At the mouth of the river Enguria, in about 41° 35' N. latitude, as ceded
by the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829. 6 In 50° 40' E. longitude.
1 680 versts by 420 versts, and 169,854 square versts. Tome II., p. 18, &c.,
Aperçu des Possessions Russes au-delà du Caucase, sous le Rapport statistique,
ethnographique, topographique et financier. St. Pétersbourg, 1836. 4 Tomes
en 8°, avec une carte.—MS. traduit par M. le Capitaine Stoltzman.
8 Voyage autour du Caucase, &c., par Frederic Dubois de Mont Péreux.
Paris, 1839. Tome I., p. 54.
of several parallel ridges, running in an east-south-easterly
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 watercourses.
1 Towards the eastern extremity inferior branches
are sent, in different directions, into Persia, whilst other offsets,
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
valleys, and, generally speaking, it has a rich soil, which is
amply watered by the rivers draining the basins eastwartj 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.8
Daghestan occupies the north-eastern extremity of the
territory, filling up the space from the crests of the Caucasus3
to the shores of the Caspian,4 and from the borders of Shirvân
to the river Terek ; an extent of 2° 50' in latitude. Within
these limits, are included the districts of Baku, Kuba, Derbend,
Tarku, Karâkaïtakh, 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 direction
towards the plains lying along the Caspian Sea. They
1 Voyage autour du Caucase, &c., par Frederic Dubois de Mont Péreux.
Paris, 1839. Tome I., p. 56.
8 Aperçu des Possessions Russes au-delà du Caucase, &c., Tome I., pp. 29
to 31.'
8 In 41° 5' E. longitude. 4 In 50° 19' 10" E. longitude.
5 From the Tartar words, Tagh, mountain, and Stân, country.—Ogilby’s
Asia, p. 39, and Aperçu, &c., Tome IV., pp. 187 to 195.
K 2