THIBET MUSK, 
with these species, bat lest I should too muck' 
offend the prejudices of most naturalists. 
Marco Paolo, Barbosa, and P. Philippe de 
Marini, are all more or less deceived in the 
notices they have given concerning this animal. 
The onlv fa6l in which they agree is, that the 
Musk is formed in a pouch, or tumour, near 
the navel; and it appears from their testimo- 
nies, as well as those of other travellers, that 
the Male alone produces the Musk ; that the 
Female has the same pouch near the navel, but 
that the humour secreted in it has not the same 
odour; that this tumour of the Male is not 
filled with Musk, except in the rutting sea- 
son ; and that, at other times, the quantity of 
this humour is smaller, and it's odour weaker. 
Wall regard to the Musk itself, it's essence is, 
perhaps, as little known, as the nature of the 
animal from which it proceeded. All travel- 
lers agree, that this substance is perpetually 
adulterated with blood, or other drugs, by the 
venders. The Chinese not only augment it's 
size, by mixture; but they endeavour to in- 
crease it's weight, by incorporating with it 
finely powdered lcad» The Musk that is 
purest, 
