DARGIN
(Own name: Dargua)

An indigenous North East Caucasian people of slightly less than 350 000 living mostly in Central Dagestan. They constitute the second largest group in this republic. Dargin turned to Islam in the eighth century under Arab influence. Dargin territory came under Russian rule in the beginning of the nineteenth century. Like the Avar, the Dargin traditionally a trading people have widely maintained their traditional extended family structures, village assembly and council of elders. Dargin today also include the Kaidak and the Kubachi whose languages are distinct from each other as well as from Dargin, but both have disappeared from official censuses.

Note: This information is taken from "The North Caucasus: Minorities at a Crossroads" written by Helen Krag and Larsh Funch.