<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893658
<NAME> ARK
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 132
<NAME> ARK MARYLAND TAX FREE RETAIL B
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 8-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> SEP-09-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 116840
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 113660
<RECEIVABLES> 1745
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 115405
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 996
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 590
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1586
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 118025
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (1026)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (3180)
<NET-ASSETS> 113819
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6584
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1027)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5557
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1021)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (7849)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (3313)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 50
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 533
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 798
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1313
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 122586
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.75
<PER-SHARE-NII> 1.51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.23)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (1.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.04)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.48
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.68
</TABLE>
