386 DIVERSIONS OF A NATURALIST 



its use in searching for metalliferous deposits, and more 

 about the supposed wonderful results obtained with its 

 aid by professional water-finders. 



We have to distinguish the facts established in regard 

 to " the dousing-twig " from the inferences and supposi- 

 tions based upon those facts by credulous people. There 

 is no room for doubt that when the forked twig, in shape 

 like a letter Y upside down, is held by a more or less 

 nervous but perfectly honest person who takes the matter 

 very seriously, and holds firmly one branch of the fork in 

 one hand and the other in the other hand, the fingers 

 well round it so as to bring it against the palm of the 

 hand, a strange thing happens after some minutes. The 

 twig seems to the person holding it to give a sudden 

 movement as though drawn downwards. If he or she is 

 walking along, intently awaiting this movement, and 

 believing that it will be caused by some subterranean 

 attraction, the effect is, naturally enough, startling. It 

 occurs more readily with some persons than with others. 

 What is the explanation of it ? There is no necessity 

 for supposing that it is due to any mysterious attraction 

 by hidden water or metal. It has been clearly shown 

 that it is due to fatigue of the muscles which are em- 

 ployed in keeping the hands and fingers in position. 

 The muscles in use suddenly relax, and the hands turn 

 to a new pose one of rest and with them the forked 

 twig. In most persons attention and control are suffici- 

 ently active to prevent this sudden relaxation of the 

 muscles. But those who are liable to mental absorption 

 in the strange procedure, and are apt to become half- 

 dazed by the solemn sort of " rite " in which they are 

 engaged, find their tired hands (tired, though they are 

 unconscious of it) suddenly turning, and the twig " duck- 

 ing " downwards in a way which they can neither explain 



