THIBET MUSfC, 
purest, and in most request among the Chinese 
themselves, is that which drops spontaneously 
from the animal, on stones or trunks of trees ; 
against which it rubs, when the matter is too 
abundant, or begins to irritate the pouch where 
it is formed : that found in the pouch itself is 
seldom so good, because it is not fully ripe ; or, 
rather, because it is during the ratting season 
only that it acquires it's greatest strength and 
odour ; and, at this period, the animal en- 
deavours to get rid of a matter which is too 
highly exalted, and occasions itching and some 
degree of pain. Both Cliardin, and Taver- 
nier, have well described the methods prac- 
tised by the Orientals to adulterate Musk. The 
iiierchants must necessarily augment the quan- 
tity of it beyond conception : for, in one year, 
Tavcrnier purchased 1663 bags, which sup- 
poses an equal number of animals : but as 
this animal is no where domestic, and the spe- 
cies is confined to a few provinces of the 
East, it cannot possibly be so numerous as to 
produce such a quantity of this matter. Most 
of these pretended bags, therefore, must be 
little artificial bladders, made of tiie skin of 
other parts of the auimal's body, and filled 
witli 
