300 HISTORY OF 



der. Of these Taverner brought home near two 

 thousand in one year ; and as the animal is wild, 

 so many must during that space have been hunt- 

 ed and taken. But as the creature is represented 

 very shy, and as it is found but in some particular 

 provinces of the East, the wonder is how its bag 

 should be so cheap, and furnished in such great 

 plenty. The bag in common does not cost (if I 

 do not forget) above a crown by retail, and yet 

 this is supposed the only one belonging to the 

 animal, and for. the obtaining of which it must 

 have been hunted and killed. The only way of 

 solving this difficulty, is to suppose that these 

 bags are in a great measure counterfeit, taken 

 from some other animal, or from some part of the 

 same, filled with its blood and a very little of the 

 perfume, but enough to impregnate the rest with 

 a strong and permanent odour. It comes to us 

 from different parts of the East ; from China, 

 Tonquin, Bengal, and often from Muscovy : that 

 of Thibet is reckoned the best, and sells for four- 

 teen shillings an ounce ; that of Muscovy the 

 worst, and sells but for three, the odour of this, 

 though very strong at first, being quickly found 

 to evaporate. 



Musk was some years ago in the highest request 

 as a perfume, and but little regarded as a medi- 

 cine ; but at present its reputation is totally 

 changed, and having been found of great benefit 

 in physic, it is but little regarded for the purposes 

 of elegance. It is thus'that things which become 

 necessary cease to continue pleasing j and the 



