FIFTY YEARS OF A SHOWMAN'S LIFE 



strong or a weak one, and, usualty, to predicate 

 the depth within a few feet. A twig of some sort 

 was necessary for the discovery of water under- 

 ground, but when standing over a strong stream 

 above-ground he felt a slight tingling sensation, 

 although he might not have the rod. I particularly 

 inquired of him whether the power was influenced 

 in any way by the state of his health. He said 

 that when he had a bad cold or was otherwise 

 indisposed, he felt an exhaustion after using the 

 rod, such as he would not experience at other 

 times. As he himself put it, " It seemed to take 

 more out of me then." A too-prolonged use of 

 the rod at any time was apt to produce sleepless- 

 ness. He would undertake to find running, but 

 not stagnant, water. He did not confine himself 

 to one particular rod, but usually went to the 

 nearest hedge and cut one when he wanted to 

 use it. His experience led him to believe that 

 the power was more frequently to be met with 

 in women than men. This view has been corrobo- 

 rated by my own investigations in other directions. 

 On one occasion, myself and about a dozen 

 other persons, who were observing Mullins when 

 he was dowsing, all tried the rod at two or three 

 spots where, in Mullins' hands, it indicated the 

 presence of water, and the only person with whom 

 the rod moved was a lady. 



I may say that I do not attach any special 

 importance to the mere movement of the rod in 

 the hands of a diviner, as very similar motions 

 can be produced by voluntary muscular contrac- 

 tions. I had evidence of this on the part of a 

 friend, in whose hands the twig moved readily 



134. 



