C OMME R C E B E TWE E N 240
It is very difficult to procure the genuine Thibet
mufk, becaufe the Chinefe purchafe a bad fort, which
comes from Siberia, with which they adulterate that
which is brought from Thibet
Ruffia draws great advantages from the Chinefe trade.
Kuffia. By tRis traffic, its natural productions, and particularly
its furs and Ikins, are difpofed of in a very profitable
manner. Many of thefe furs procured from the
moft Eafterly parts of Siberia, are of fuch little value
that they would not anfwer the expence of carriage into
Ruffia while the richer furs, which are fold to the
Chinefe at a very high price, would, on account of
their dearnefs, - feldom meet with purchafers in the Ruffian
dominions. In exchange for thefe commodities the
Ruffians receive from China feveral valuable articles of
commerce, which they would otherwife be obliged to buy
at a much dearer rate from the European powers, to the
great difadvantage of the balance of their trade.
I have before obferved, that formerly the exportation
and importation of the moft valuable goods were prohibited
to individuals ; at prefent only the following articles
are prohibited. Among the exports, fire-arms ^nd
artillery ; gunpowder and ball ; gold and filver, coined
* S. R . G. III. p. 572— 592. Pallas Reife, p. III. p. 144— 1J3.
and
R U S S I A A N D C fg I N A. 24-r
and uncoined, ftallions and mares; fkins o f deer, reindeer,
elks, and horfes; beaver’s hair, potafli, rofin,
thread, and * tinfel-lace : among the imports, fait, brandy,
poifons, copper-money, and rhubarb.
The duties paid by the Ruffian-merchants are very
confiderable; great part of the merchandife is taxed
2.5 per cent-.
Turs') cattle, and provifions, pay a duty of 4 3,
Ruffian manufactures jg .
One per cent, is alfo deducted from the price of all
goods for the expence of deepening the river Selenga;
and 7 per cent for the fupport o f the cuftom-houfe.
Some articles, both o f export and import, pay no duty.
The exported are, writing, royal, and poft paper, Rulla
cloth of all forts and colours, excepting peafants. cloth.
The imported are, fatins, raw and ftained cottons, porcelain,
earthen-ware, glafs corals, beads, fans, all mu-
fical inftruments, furniture, lackered and enamelled ornaments,
needles, white-lead, rice, preferved ginger,
and other fweet-meats t.
* Tinfel lace is fmuggled to the Chinefe, with confiderable profit;
for they pay nearly as much for it as i f it was folid filver,
S. R. GAIII, p. 588.
4- Pallas Reife, P .I I I , p.154 .
I i The