600 A KAZEM-BEG, 
habitants of Bakou never knew any thing about the construction of the stone-wells proper for 
the preservation of the white naphtha. 
These circumstances lead us to believe that the inhabitants of Bakou mistake the émprovement 
of the white naphtha, to such a degree as it is now, for the said discovery; for it ïs certain 
that the working of the springs of this lighter sort of the fluid belongs to the later years and 
that, notwithstanding the care taken of them by the Government, the number of stone wells 
did not exceed 16 in number until the year 1837. — 
According to the report of the Custom-house for 1829, consulled by Mr. Leg kobitoff; 
the author of the description of the Province of Bakü (see OGosphnie Pyc. B4a4. BR Sakarkas- 
ckomt Kpat, Part IV. p.64.) the exportation of naphtha amounted in that year to 310,076 poods, 
namely 309,780 poods of black naphtha, to the sum of about E. 2 3670 and 296 poods of white 
naphtha to the amount of E. 95. 
The store-houses, or caves for storing the naphtha are generally in the earth and are built 
of.siones. they are-of-a quadrangular form covered with arched roofs; they have no opening, 
except some holes for pouring in and taking out the fluid, but every one of them has, besides, 
an entrance for descending into and cleansing ïts interior. The walls of these caves are co- 
vered with lime which prevents the escape of the fluid. The number of such caves in 183% 
was 35; namely 12 in Bahli-khani, 1 about the wells of Baïbat and 22 -near the fortress of 
Bâkü, where the sale takes place. Besides these, some years ago, the government made arran- 
gements to build new cellars, more convenient and durable than the old ones, but their num: 
ber is not known to me. 
B) Salt: — The same Peninsula of 4psherän abounds also with lakes of salt, of which 
the principal are the following: 
1) The lake of Mosazir, near a village of the same name, at the distance of something 
more than two farsakhs from the fortress. Ils length, when full of water, is about three En- 
glish miles; its utmost breadth one mile and 1390 yards. Its circumference about 71/, miles. 
2) The lake of Zikh, near a village of the same name, at the distance of 10 /, miles from 
the town. Its length is one mile and 60 yards; its utmost breadth very nearly a mile; its cir- 
cumference almost 3!/, miles. — This lake may produce about 9000 Khalwar ;of good salt, 
3) The lake of Gkala, 22 miles from Bakà. Its length ïs Ÿ, of a mile; ïls utmost breadth 
830 yards, and its circumference 2}, miles. 
&) The lake of Muhammedi. Lis length is 2150 feet; its utmost breadth 950 feet, and its cir- 
cumference about 1°/ miles. 
5) The lake of Bahlikhani about 8 miles from the town: its full length ïs, about 314 miles; 
its utmost. breadth. something more than $/,.of a mile, and its circumference about 7 miles. — It 
produces generally no more rs 180 ras ed of good salt; but in 1841 it afforded 380 Khalwars 
6) Khodja- Hasan, balf a mile from a village of the same name. Its length is about one mile; 
its utmost breadth no more than 1400 feet, and ïts circumference about 1%, miles. — 
7) Binagkadi. {ts length is 2 miles, and its breadth about 1 mile. 
8 and 9) Kurde-Khän, near the village of the same name, and Ghkerayatagh near Digha ; 
these do not produce, LE more, than 100 Khalwars of salt. 
10 and 11) Ærüsküm and Agkadjän; not far from Kurda- Khani, both of which produce 
o more than 150 Khalwars of pretty good salt. (See OGospruie &c. Part IV. pag. 25 — 35 n 
