Derbend-näâmeh or the History of Derbend. 601 
The most remarkable of these lakes for the abundance of their mineral productions are those 
of Masazir and Zikh, from both of which may be gathered yearly about 26 thousand Khal- 
wârs, or 520.000 poods of good salt. The lake most remarkable for the good quality of its 
salt, is that of Gkala. 
The yearly production of salt from all these lakes may amount, in case of need, to 30,000 
Khalwäârs or about 600,000 pouds; but generally they do not work more than 10,000 Khal- 
wärs, and that mostly from the lakes of Masazir, Zikh and Bahli- Khani. The export of salt 
in 4829 did not exceed 132,340 poods, i. e. to the amount of about E. 3151. 
Remark 3. page 591. 
The reader will here find a great difference between the two versions set before him, and 
to neither of them can we ourselves accord any preference. The circumstances referred to in 
our MS. in the description of the period between the years 290 and 320, of which no mention 
is made in the Petersburg version, may be looked upon as probable, and founded upon histo- 
rical grounds; for during that deplorable period of bloodshed and destruction in the Muham- 
medan Empire, all Aderbijan might certainly have been left to its own fate. The ascension of 
Djafar- Almugktadir-billah, during his minority, to the throne of the Khalifate, opened the way 
to many misfortunes in the empire. Calamity did not slumber, whilst this young Prince was 
sleeping in the arms of indolence and luxury. His establishment on the throne was accompa- 
nied by several events, which brought destruction upon many parts of the kingdom and threa- 
tened with overthrow the shrine of religion and the throne of the Empire. Bloody wars at home 
and abroad, which continued for many years, having exhausted the industry and defeated the policy 
of the able ministers of the careless Khalif, the remoter regions of the Empire were naturally left to 
their own destiny: not only Aderbijan and Daghistan, but even some more interesting parts of the 
kingdom had to wrestle with continual misfortune. The assassination of 4/mugktadir and the eleva- 
tion of Ælgkahir-billah contributed gréatly to the progress of successive revolts and to the decrease 
of the power of the Khalifate; so that im the reign of 4r- Rädzi-billah (who ascended the 
throne after the most disgraceful degradation of his predecessor) many parts of the Theocratic 
empire withdrew their submissiôn which they had formerly admitted. — The following quota- 
tion from an historical work (Djamÿul-letdif sva käshiful- asrär) well expresses the fate of the 
au deb Puel oc naione ce rer ot el 9 
PEL sb Jr 5 JE) eut (selle ie gL an 20 ge ds Ji Jef Go PE aus nl 
be, ap ce dsl obe ve 5 orolés dll di eus Gi dll Lis él C5, 
coul > 5 de ol, 2h y sons o L5 LE Lessl, vhs aus 5 6 
r ls 58, QUE cglslisyl Je ep Dies Je Ci JE Put, dal God og ah5 rs GSoell) 
ÉBOPERERRTE pat de E hs S obss OL Che 5 A 
| à bi Dis 67 LA caisls &And in the days of 4r-Radzt the affars between the Amirs 
