212 The Divining Rod. 
motions of the rod take re saecare to the sincere inten- 
tions of the diviner. But the same force which he applies 
to restrain the motion, does, aera from the peculiar man- 
ner of holding the rod, compel that motion. If the attrac- 
tion between the rod and water be real, it will show itself, 
one would think, when the rod is held fast in the diviner’s 
hands, in any position. This, however, is not the case. It 
requires a snrart bi nding pressure of its limbs, together with an 
imperceptible tarning of the hands on the wrists, to put it in 
action ; and then the more you hold it, the more it will go. 
This singular conduct of the rod has imposed on diviners, 
and, mistaking its true origin, they have, with common con- 
sent, imputed” it to ores and fountains in the bowels of the 
ea: 
r 
The whole character of the divining rod may be safely 
rested on the single experiment of blinding the Han 
Young or old, if guided solely by the divining rod, he ¢ 
trace the. same courses blindfold, which he Shas 
before traced, always marking his veins and fountains of wa- 
ter in the same places, the rod would gain credit; but since 
he cannot, it must sink,—it must be forsaken. 
, the peach, and the hazel itself, are excelled in the 
ng of their divining motions by dry and nervous whale- 
ne. 
€ pretensions of diviners are worthless. The art of 
a oe fountains and minerals with a succulent twig, is 4 
cheat upon those who practice it, an offence to reason and 
to common sense ; an art abhorrent to the laws of nature, and 
deserving universal reprobation. 
