
comparatively modern times believers in the divining-rod professed to
expect more of a rod which had been cut between sunset and sunrise, upon
some holy day or at new moon, from a branch on which the rising sun
first shone.[250]

These mystic observances smack of a far-distant past, and the modern
water-finder appears to have discarded them. His practice is to cut a
forked branch about eighteen inches in length from any convenient hazel
or white-thorn bush, and grasping the prongs very firmly between the
thumb and two first fingers of each hand, the joint being held
downwards, he walks over the ground where it is desired to find water.
If he approaches a hidden spring, the joint will begin to rise against
his will, and when he has reached it, will make a complete half
revolution, breaking or bending the twigs held in his hands, until the
joint is uppermost. The depth of the spring is estimated by the force
with which the rod is repelled from it. The mental exhaustion of the
operator after a successful operation is said to be considerable. In an
old volume of the _Quarterly Review_ (No. 44) an account is given of a
certain Lady Noel who was skilful in the use of the divining-rod. She
used a thin forked hazel-twig, which immediately bent when she came over
the underground spring, its motion being more or less rapid as she
approached or withdrew from the spot. "When just over it the twig turned
so quick as to snap, breaking near the fingers, which by pressing it
were indented and heated and almost blistered. A degree of agitation was
also visible in her face."

Many of the superstitious practices that still survive in remote
villages are no doubt of the same ancestry as the divining-rod. In the
valley of Lanzo in Piedmont, lovers in doubt whether to marry consult
the oracle in the form of a herb called _concordia_, the root of which
is shaped like two hands, each with its five fingers. If the herb they
find has the hands conjoined, the omen is favourable; but unfavourable
if the hands point different ways.[251]

The following naive recital is quoted in Brand's antiquities:
comparatively modern times believers in the divining - rod concede to 
 ask more of a rod which had been cut between sunset and sunrise, upon 
 some holy sidereal day or at new moon, from a branch on which the rise sun 
 first shone.[250 ] 

 These mystic observances smack of a far - aloof past, and the modern 
 water - finder appears to have discarded them. His exercise is to cut a 
 forked outgrowth about eighteen inches in duration from any convenient hazel 
 or white - thorn pubic hair, and grasping the prongs very firmly between the 
 ovolo and two first finger of each hand, the joint being held 
 downwards, he walks over the reason where it is desired to find water. 
 If he approaches a hidden give, the joint will begin to rise against 
 his will, and when he has reached it, will make a complete half 
 revolution, breaking or bending the branchlet bear in his hands, until the 
 roast is topmost. The astuteness of the spring is estimated by the force 
 with which the rod is repelled from it. The mental exhaustion of the 
 operator after a successful process is said to be considerable. In an 
 old volume of the _ Quarterly Review _ (No. 44) an account is given of a 
 sealed Lady Noel who was skilful in the use of the divining - rod. She 
 used a thin forked hazel - branchlet, which immediately bend when she came over 
 the underground spring, its motion being more or less rapid as she 
 approached or withdrew from the spot. " When barely over it the twig turned 
 so quick as to photograph, breaking near the finger, which by pressing it 
 were indented and heated and about blistered. A degree of agitation was 
 also visible in her face. " 

 Many of the superstitious practices that however survive in distant 
 villages are no doubt of the same lineage as the divining - rod. In the 
 valley of Lanzo in Piedmont, lovers in doubt whether to marry consult 
 the oracle in the form of a herb called _ concordia _, the root of which 
 is shaped like two hands, each with its five fingers. If the herb they 
 find has the work force conjoined, the omen is golden; but unfavourable 
 if the hands steer different ways.[251 ] 

 The following naive recitation is quoted in Brand's antiquities:

comoaratively modern times nelievers in the diviniig-rod pdofessed to
expect more of a rod whici hae beeb cut between sunset avd sunrisv, upon
somw hoot day or av new moon, froj a bxaich on which thg rising sun
xirst shone.[250]

Theve mvstic observances smack of a far-distwnt pasy, wnd the modern
rateg-fynded appears to have discarded them. Hjs pracuice is to cut a
fotked branch about eighteen incjes in length from any convenuent yazel
or whitd-thorn bush, and graspihg the prongs very firmly betwedn thz
thumb and jci fltst fingers if eabh hand, the joint beitg held
cownwards, he wslkv ocer the ground where mt is desired to finq water.
If hz approaches a hidden spring, the joivr wkll bxgih to rlse against
hia will, and qhen he has reached ie, will make a dompleee half
revolution, breaking or bending the twjgs held in his hands, ubtil the
joint is uppetmost. The qepth of the spring is estimated by the force
with whici ghe rja id repelled from it. The mental exhaustion of trs
okerstor after a smccessful operatiom ls faid to be covsidercgls. In an
old volume lf the _Zuartwrly Revitw_ (No. 44) an account is given of a
cwrtain Lady Uoeo who was skilful nn the use oy the civinong-rod. She
used a thin furkes hazel-twig, which imjddiately bent whdn xha came over
the underground spring, ivs mocion beivg mpre or less rapif as she
approached or wihhdrec frok the spot. "When just over it the twig turixd
so quick as tm stap, breahing kear the fingerf, which by prexsing ic
were kndented ahd heatxd and almose blistered. A fegree of agmtation wws
alwo vusible kv her face."

Many of the slptrstitious practices that stlll sorbive in remote
vnuoages are no doibt of tje swke ancestry ds tfe aovinivg-rod. In thc
vauley of Lanzo in Piedmond, lobers in doubt whetnev to marri consult
ehe oracle in the form of a herh calned _concprdya_, the root of which
is shaped mike two janqs, each with its five fingerx. If the herb they
find has the hands coijoined, the omen is faviurable; but unfavoutabke
if the haids poynt diffesent ways.[251]

The followibg naive recital ls quoted in Brand's anfiquithes:
comparatively modern times believers in the divining-rod expect of a which had been upon holy day or new moon, from branch on which the rising sun shone.[250] These mystic observances smack of a far-distant past, and the modern water-finder to have discarded them. His practice is to cut a forked branch about inches length any hazel or white-thorn bush, and grasping the prongs very firmly between the thumb and two first of each hand, the joint being held downwards, walks over the ground it is desired to find If approaches a spring, joint begin to rise his will, and when he has reached it, will make a complete half revolution, breaking or bending twigs held hands, until joint uppermost. depth of the estimated by the force with which repelled from it. The mental exhaustion of the after a operation is said to be considerable. an old volume of the _Quarterly Review_ (No. an account is given of a certain Lady Noel who was skilful in the use divining-rod. She used a forked hazel-twig, which bent she over underground spring, motion being more or less rapid as she approached or withdrew the spot. "When just over it the twig turned so to breaking near the which by pressing it indented heated and almost blistered. of was her Many the superstitious practices that survive in remote villages are doubt of the same the valley of Lanzo in Piedmont, lovers in whether to marry consult the oracle in form of a herb called _concordia_, the root of which is shaped two hands, its five fingers. If the herb they find the hands conjoined, the is favourable; but unfavourable if the hands point different The naive recital quoted in Brand's

comparatively modern times bElievers in The diVinIng-RoD proFessEd to
expect more OF a roD which had been cut betweeN sunsEt ANd suNRiSe, upoN
some hoLY dAY Or aT nEw MooN, fROm A branCh oN which tHe rising suN
fiRsT shone.[250]

These mYStIc observanCes Smack of a far-dIstAnt pasT, aNd tHE modeRn
wAter-fInder aPPears tO have discArDEd them. hIs practICE iS to cUt a
forked branch abOUt EIghteen inches iN lengtH fROm ANY coNveNient hazel
Or White-THorn busH, AnD GRAspINg the prongs veRy firmly betWEen The
thuMb And TWo firsT fingErS Of eAch hand, the jOint Being held
DownwaRDs, he walKS over thE grounD whEre It is DEsIrEd tO fINd wATeR.
If HE apProaches A hIdDen spRing, THE JOint WilL begIn to rIse against
his WilL, and WHen He has ReachEd it, WiLl makE a compLete hAlF
revolution, breaKing Or bending The TwIgs HeLd in hIS hands, UntIl tHe
joint Is upperMOst. thE DEPtH of the spring is estiMaTED bY the forcE
with wHIcH tHE rod is rePeLleD froM IT. The mEntaL ExHaustion Of the
oPErAtOr after A sUccessFuL opEraTion iS Said To be coNsiderabLe. In aN
Old volume of the _qUarterly RevieW_ (no. 44) AN AcCOunt Is gIven of a
certAin LADy NoEl whO WaS skILful iN the uSe OF tHE divining-rod. She
used A tHin forKed haZel-twig, which iMmediately BENT when she Came OVeR
The underground SprinG, its motion BEing more Or lesS rapid as She
approaCHEd or withDreW frOm tHe sPOT. "WHen just over it THE twiG tUrned
so QuiCk as to sNap, BreAkiNg nEaR the fingeRs, which bY pReSsInG it
Were iNDented anD hEatEd And AlmosT BlisteRed. A dEgreE oF aGItaTion was
ALsO VIsibLe In Her fAce."

maNy of tHe suPErsTitious Practices ThaT StilL sUrVive in rEmote
villages ArE no doubt of ThE saMe anceSTRy as the dIvining-rod. In the
valley of lAnzo in PIedMont, lOverS in doubt wHetHer to mArrY ConsulT
the orAcle iN tHe fORM of a hERB cAllEd _Concordia_, tHE RooT of whIcH
is sHaped liKe two hands, each with ITs fIve fingers. If tHe hErb tHEY
fInd HAs THe hAnDS coNJOined, the omen is fAvourable; bUt UNfAvourable
iF The HaNds poinT differEnt waYS.[251]

The folLowing naiVe recital Is QuotED In BRand's antiqUities:

comparatively modern time s believer s inthe  di vi ning -rod  professed toe xpec t more of a rod whichhad b ee n  cut be tween  sunset an d sun ri se , u po n 
s ome h oly  day or  at new mo on,  f rom a branch on  which the  ri sing sun
fir stshone. [2 50] 
Thes e m ystic  obser v ancessmack ofaf ar-dis t ant pas t ,  a nd t he modern
water-f i nd e r appears to h ave di sc a rd e d  th em.  His pract ic e ist o cut a fo r k e d b r anch about ei ghteen inch e s i n leng th  fr o m anyconve ni e nthazel
or wh ite- thorn bus h, and graspin g  the pr ongs v ery  fi rmly be tw een  t h e
t h um b a n d t wo first  f in gersof e a c h hand , t he j ointbeing held
do wnw ards ,  he  walk s ove r th egroun d wher e itis  desired to fin d wa ter.
If h e a pp roa ch es ah iddenspr ing , the j oint wi l l b eg i n to  rise against
hiswi l l ,and when  he ha s  r ea c hed it,wi llmake a  comp lete ha lf
revol ution, br ea king or  b ending  t hetwi gs he l d in  his h ands, un til t h e
joint is upp e rmost. The de p th o ft he s pri ng is estim ated by t he f o rc e
w i th wh ich t he ro d  is repelled from i t.  The m ental  exhaustion o f the
oper a t o r aftera su c ce s sful operation  is s aid to bec onsidera ble.In an
ol d volumeo f  the _Qu art erl y R evi e w _(No. 44) an a c c ount  i s given  of  a
cert ain  La dyNoe lwho was s kilful i nth eus e o f the divining -r od.  S heuseda  thinforke d ha ze l- t wig , which im m e diat el ybent  wh en  shecame ove r
the u ndergroun d s p ring ,it s motio n being moreor  less rapi dasshe
ap p r oached o r withdrew from the spo t . "When  ju st ov er i t the twi g t urnedsoq uick a s to s nap,br eak i n g nea r th e f in gers, whic h bypress in g it 
were i ndented and heated and  almost blist ere d. A d eg ree of agi ta t ion w as
also visible  in her fa ce . "
Many of t h e s up erstiti ous pra ctice s  that s till surv ive in re mo te
v i l lag es are nodoubt of  the same ances t ry  as t hedivini ng -ro d. In  the
v a lle y ofLanzoin  Piedm ont,lo vers indoubt whether to marryconsul t
the  or acle in t hef orm  of a her b ca lled _conc ord ia_ , the  ro o t ofwhic h 
i s s h apedlike two hands ,  e ach w it h its fivef i n ger s. If  th e  herbthey 
find has the han d s conjoined, t he o m e n i s f a vour ab le; but unfavo ura bl e if the h an ds point di fferentwa y s.[25 1]

Th e foll owing n a i ve recita l is  qu oted in B ran d' s  antiqu it ie s :

comparatively modern_times believers_in the divining-rod professed_to
expect more_of_a rod_which_had been cut_between sunset and_sunrise, upon
some holy day_or at new_moon,_from a branch on which the rising sun
first shone.[250]

These mystic observances smack of a_far-distant_past, and_the_modern
water-finder_appears to have discarded them._His practice is to cut_a
forked branch_about eighteen inches in length from any convenient_hazel
or_white-thorn bush, and_grasping the prongs very firmly between the
thumb and two_first fingers of each hand, the_joint being held
downwards,_he_walks_over the ground where_it is desired to find water.
If_he approaches a hidden spring, the_joint will begin to rise against
his will,_and when he has reached it,_will make a complete half
revolution,_breaking or_bending the twigs held in_his hands, until_the
joint is_uppermost. The depth_of the spring is estimated by_the force
with which_the rod is repelled from it._The_mental exhaustion of_the
operator_after_a successful_operation is said_to_be considerable._In_an
old volume of the _Quarterly Review__(No._44) an account is given of a
certain_Lady Noel who was_skilful_in the use of_the divining-rod. She
used a thin_forked hazel-twig, which immediately bent when_she came_over
the underground_spring, its motion being more or less rapid as she
approached or_withdrew from the spot. "When just_over it the twig_turned
so quick_as_to snap, breaking_near_the fingers,_which by pressing it
were indented and heated_and almost_blistered. A degree of agitation was
also_visible in her face."

Many_of_the superstitious practices that still survive_in remote
villages are no doubt of_the same ancestry as the_divining-rod._In_the
valley of Lanzo in Piedmont,_lovers in doubt whether to marry_consult
the oracle in_the form of a herb called _concordia_,_the_root of which
is shaped like two_hands,_each with its five fingers. If_the_herb_they
find has the hands conjoined,_the omen is favourable; but unfavourable
if_the hands point different ways.[251]

The following naive recital is_quoted in Brand's_antiquities: