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honour, but still the local name given to these professors, 
«jowsers,” derived from a slang verb, “ to chouse,” betokens some 
suspicion in the public mind of the soundness of their pretensions. 
By favour of Col. Long his own notes on this successful 
discovery of water are here added. 
For many years I have been dependent on rain for my water supply, 
‘and those who do the same well know how unreliable this is. 
Plenty of rain may fall each year, but (with the exception of 
thunderstorms) it is seldom that rain lasts long enough, or is hard 
-enough to run off the surface of roads in sufficient quantity to fill tanks. 
In 1885, I moved to Clevedon expecting to let this place easily, but 
the want of spring water prevented my getting a tenant. 
In 1888 I returned, and determined to get water if possible. 
Higher up the hill, about a mile East of this house on a property 
named Woolmers belonging to the Trustees of the Queen Elizabeth 
Hospital, Bristol, is a well that has never been known to be dry, and 
I hoped that possibly the spring might run this way. I sent for 
‘Thomas Young who lived at Rowberrow, and was noted as a successful 
-dowser. I should here state that to “ dowse” is defined by Mr. 
Elworthy in his “ West Somerset Words” as “to use the divining rod 
for the purpose of finding springs of water.” His description is as 
follows : “the rod or twig I have seen used is a fork of about a foot 
“Jong, cut off just below the bifurcation, and in size each limb is about 
“as large as a thick straw. The wood it is said must be either 
“‘halse’ or white thorn, and may be used either green or dry. The 
“operator holds an end of the twig firmly between the finger and 
“thumb of each hand, with the elbows pressed rigidly against the 
“sides, consequently the two ends of the twigs are pulled asunder, 
““with the centre or juncture of the fork pointing downwards. He 
“then moves very slowly forward, and when over a spring the twig 
‘turns outwards, and twists upon itself into an upright position.” 
Mr. T. J. Scoones, civil engineer, and Captain Hathway, late 62nd 
Regiment, were present, and we started for the well at Woolmers. With 
T. Young the fork twists on crossing a stream and commencing at the 
well we soon had a row of pegs at about 50 paces interval marking the 
course of the spring down hill, due West, in a line with my house. 
Proceeding about 800 yards we suddenly lost it, and carefully dowsing 
