The archival materials published in this collection on the history, geography and ethnography of Dagestan, relating to the period from the beginning ~ the KhUSH b. to the 30s of the XIX century. inclusive, in no way represent the entire vast mass of various archival documents that may have one or another relation to these objects. Only documents of a descriptive or narrative nature are published. This includes, in particular, descriptions of the country made by direct observers, excursions and more thorough work on the history of military topographic descriptions, economic and statistical statements.