'Central Asia. Part V. A contribution towards the better knowledge of the History, Ethnography, Topography, and resources of part of Asiatic Turkey and Caucasia' [‎237] (252/360)

LES
mountains. These valleys together with the few patches of tableland
occurring here and there between them are in general cultivated^ and produce
wheat, barley, millet, oats, &c., although not sufficient for home consumption.
The people, therefore, chiefly depend for subsistence on their numerous flocks
of horned cattle, sheep and goats, and on the occasional supplies of grain
brought from the fertile districts of Georgia. Monteith says of the Lesgis :—
" The people properly called the Lesgis are, like all of the Caucasus, divided
into many small independent tribes forming at one time, like Switzerland, a
strong federation under the Shamkol which now no longer exists, the
Russians having made an impression on them by fomenting their internal
disputes. This people are divided into four tribes, speaking totally distinct
languages. The Kafir Kumaks consists of 25,000 families. The Kajar
Kumaks of 20,000, the Avars of 32,000, and the Ak Ktischas of 12,000,
some other divisions, not included in any of these, may collectively amount to
18,000 more families, besides two considerable tribes of Tartars, Yakese and
Undni, subject to the Shamkol of Tarku.
Monteith made many excursions into the country of the Lesgis, from
which he came to the conclusion that they were more civilized than the
neighbouring nations whether Georgians, Persians, or Turks. hen the
country is capable it is in the highest state of cultivation. The villages are
large, the houses well built and clean, manufactories of cloth, silk, and
silver are carried on in a very considerable perfection. This, however, is not
the case with the tribes inhabiting the higher ranges of the mountains who
are miserably poor and generally hire themselves out as mercenary troops
to such States as may require their aid. The people of Biliem and \ar
enjoyed the greatest prosperity. These two States were, strictly speaking,
republican, they were governed by a Council and President who could be
deposed at pleasure. " In their military expeditions says Monteith they
elect a Bulliad (guide) whose office expires with the service. The Lesgis
are the bravest as well as the most turbulent of all the nations of Mount
Caucasus; they are the terror and scourge of all the neighbouring coun
tries, whose villages they lay waste, and whose inhabitants they carry into
servitude. Like the Arabs, they have, from time immemorial, preserved
their liberty and independence, and the rugged nature of their country
must ever render it inaccessible to a foreign invader, most of them are
Mahamadans; but the few tribes who yet remain in a state of ignorance,
never change the object of their veneration, which is either the sun, moon,
stars, or, in short, anything that has made an impression on their minds. It
is a custom with these people to hire themselves out to fight the battles of
their neighbour, at the price of twelve roubles the campaign, which must
cease at the end of three months from the appointed day. They often take
diiferent sides; for it is of no consequence to them against whom they fight,
and it has not unfrequently occurred, that the Lesghar tails by the sword of
his brother or most intimate friend. They are lightly dressed, according to
the custom of the Tartars, and armed with a gun, pistol, dagger, and sabre.
The Lesgis are a handsome race, well built, with black eyes and hair, but
are smaller in stature than the Georgians. Their women surpass in sym
metry and beauty all the females of Mount Caucasus, and fetch the largest
prices in the markets of Constantinople.
"Nadir Shah attacked the Lesgis, but after a long and arduous campaign
in which he lost 30,000 of his best men, he was obliged to content himself
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