a cross is made with the rod over every heap of grain, in order 

 that the Corn so distinguished may keep good for many a month. 

 In Bohemia, the magic rod is thought to cure fever; it is necessary, 

 however, when purchasing one, not to raise an objection to the 

 price. In Ireland, if anyone dreams of buried money, there is a 

 prescribed formula to be employed when digging for it — a portion 

 of which is the marking upon a Hazel wand three crosses, and the 

 recital of certain words, of a blasphemous character, over it. 



Sir Thomas Browne tells us that, in his time, the divining-rod 

 was called Moses' Rod ; and he thinks, with Agricola, that this rod is 

 of Pagan origin: — " The ground whereof were the magical rods in 

 poets, that of Pallas in Homer, that of Mercury that charmed 

 Argus, and that of Circe which transformed the followers of 

 Ulysses. Too boldy usurping the name of Moses' Rod, from which 

 notwithstanding, and that of Aaron, were probably occasioned the 

 fables of all the rest. For that of Moses must needs be famous, 

 unto the Egyptians, and that of Aaron unto many other nations 

 as being preserved in the Ark imtil the destruction of the Temple 

 built by Solomon." The Rabbis tell us that the rod of Moses 

 was, originally, carved by Adam out of a tree which grew in the 

 Garden of Eden ; that Noah, who took it into the Ark with him, 

 bequeathed it to Shem; that it descended to Abraham ; that Isaac 

 gave it to Jacob ; that, during his sojourn in Egypt, he gave it to 

 Joseph ; and that finally it became the property of Moses. 



I — 2 



