112 



The Rod again — Milk Pans. 



Vol. IV. 



the surface of the ocean at A. Water could 

 be procured any wliere in this section by dig- 

 ging down to that level, whatever may be the 

 elevation of the surface, as at CCC. 



iite 





The upperpa^rt of themore elevated moun- 

 tain region on the right hand is also pervious 

 to the rains which fall upon it — but is under- 

 laid by inclined strata of impervious rocks. — 

 These strata crop out, or come to the surface 

 at their lower edge. The effect of this ar- 

 rangement must be obvious. When the wa- 

 ter percolates through the upper portion of 

 the mountain, and reaches the surface of the 

 rock, it is forced to deviate from its course and 

 to follow the stratum till it again emerges 

 at B in the form of a spring or fountain. — 

 This fountain forms a rivulet, which by unit- 

 ing wit!; others compose larger streams, that 

 flow into and replenish the waste of the ocean 

 below. Water may also be obtained by digging 

 down to thesurface of the rock, and intercept- 

 ing the stream above the fountain as at DD. 

 The supply obtained in this way is often more 

 abimdant, but less durable than in the former 

 instance. Thus it will bo perceived that ujith- 

 €ntt impervious strata there coald he jio foun- 

 tains or ru7inin/r streams of water. 



Now if the correctness of these illustrations 

 be admitted, (and perhaps none will deny their 

 general accuracy) the reader will at once 

 perceive what value is to be placed on the 



faculty of discovering water by means of the 

 div ming rod. It may and certainly does point 

 to a hidden fountain. The divinor smites the 

 thirsty rock with his magic wand, and a foun- 

 tain gushes forth. But is this divination, or 

 is it chance'! Is it in obedience to the call 

 of the magician or to the established laws of 

 nature? Let the reader answer. I repeat — 

 the rod may unerringly point to the subterra- 

 nean fountain — it certainly does so — but that 

 fountain pervades the whole earth — exists 

 every where beneath its surface, and cannot 

 be mistaken. There can be but little liabil- 

 ity to error where it is impossible to err. 



Let the believer divine and dig by the di- 

 viningsof his rod — and the unbeliever consult 

 his own convenience, and they .shall both find 

 water. There will be this difference only — • 

 the former will be obliged to place his house 

 by the water — the latter will have water by 

 his house. 



It would be a violation of my pledge either 

 to affirm or deny the power of divination to 

 the caduceus, but I suspect that very few of 

 my readers will henceforth think it deserving 

 of trial. 

 New Garden, lOih mo. 1st, 1S39. 



The Rod again. Milk Fans* 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Cabinet. 



Sir, — I perceive that Mr. Pedder is out, 

 in your last number, in reply to an objection 

 to the Divining Rod, and I mean to help him, 

 not because I am more credulous than those 

 who hoot at it, but because there is truth in 

 the thing, and I think science will help us 

 out. 



I shall first state some facts, and then try 

 to show how this seemingly strange thing 

 may be accounted for. Some years ago, hav- 

 ing fixed on a site for a house, I was anxious 

 to know the exact spot I ouffht to dig in order 

 to obtain water. A plain farmer in this vi- 

 cinity, who was in the habit of finding water 

 for the "folks" without fee or reward, was 

 requested to come and try for me — he found 

 it just where I would have had it, and more- 

 over told me, — " I might dig any where 

 thereabouts and obtain water." Tliis easy 

 good natured direction you may rest assured 

 did not increase my confidence in the art; 

 but I dug and found water. Some two or 

 three years affer the subject was introduced 

 in a conversation between two gentlemen and 

 my.'^elf at my house, and one of them, an el- 

 derly mnn, who had traveled much, said that 

 he was sTti-fied of the truth of it, and that 

 the divining rod would operate in his hands. 

 The other gentleman and myself having now 

 a fair opportunity to investigate this absurd 

 matter, we sallied out forthwith to obtain the 

 necessary instrument, and when obtained and 



