253 TIBETIAN MUSK. 



stance, of the most powerful and penetrating smell ; 

 and which is no other than the perfume in its na- 

 tural state. As soon as the animal is killed, the 

 hunters cut off the receptacle or musk-bag, and 

 tie it up ready for sale. The animals must of ne- 

 cessity be extremely numerous in some parts, 

 since we are assured by Tavernier, the celebrated 

 merchant and traveller, that he purchased, in one 

 of his eastern journeys, no less than seven thou- 

 sand six hundred and seventy-three musk-bags. 



This receptacle or follicle containing the musk 

 is covered externally with short brown hair, and 

 is more or less full according to the age, health, 

 &c. of the animal : the contained substance or 

 musk is, when dry, of a dark reddish brown or 

 rusty black colour, somewhat unctuous, and of a 

 more or less granulated appearance : it has a bit- 

 terish subacrid taste ; and a fragrant smell, agree- 

 able at a distance, but so strong as to be highly 

 unpleasant when smelt near to. So violent in- 

 deed is the smell of musk, when fresh taken from 

 the animal, or from quantities put up by the mer- 

 chants for sale, that it has been known to force 

 the blood from the nose, eyes, and ears of those 

 who have imprudently inhaled its vapours; and 

 we are assured by Chardin, that whenever he was 

 engaged in making purchases of musk, he always 

 found it necessary to cover his face with several 

 folds of a handkerchief, in order to be sufficiently 

 secure against the sudden effects of the smell. 



As musk is an expensive drug it is frequently 

 adulterated by various substances, and we are 



