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OBSERVATIONS ON MUSK. 
Kjachta it is taken into the interior of China, and the pro- 
cess of adulteration it there undergoes is entirely unknown; 
but it is a fact, the authenticity of which is indisputable, that 
no Russian musk bag is ever re-imported from China, via 
Kjachta, the only trading mart between Russia and China; 
and further, that not a single bag of Chinese musk ever 
arrives in Russia via Kjachta. 
In one year, 300, 400, and even upwards of 500 lbs. of 
Russian musk have been carried to China by Kjachta. In 
such years it may be presumed that but little musk arrived 
at St. Petersburg, where the rise and fall of the market 
price is governed by the quantity imported. 
From St. Petersburg and Moscow there is annually ex- 
ported a quantity of Russian musk, amounting to an average 
of 500 lbs. Perhaps one-half of this quantity is destined 
for the London market, where more especially the smallest 
bags are in demand, whilst the remainder is distributed 
amongst other European markets, more especially those of 
Holland and Germany, where the greater part is consumed. 
The Russian musk, when exported from Russia, is always 
genuine and unadulterated ; the bags never being opened, 
are consequently never sewn, or closed in any artificial 
manner. Sometimes it is obtained so fresh that moisture 
may be expressed therefrom by cutting through the fleshy 
side of the bag. The interior mass is frequently of a soft 
and pappy consistence; externally, however, the bags are 
perfectly dry. 
Dyrssen, an eminent Russian merchant, proved to Dr. 
Gobel, by his books, that he annually exported, on an 
average, about 200 lbs. of Russian musk, and he stated that 
through other houses at least a similar aggregate quantity 
was sold; and lastly, from Moscow, in the winter, there 
was sent, via Brody, to Vienna, and through other channels, 
at least 100 lbs., giving an annual total of 500 lbs. of Rus- 
sian musk, which was rather below than above the average 
quantity exported. 
