top. From the position of the rod
it was almost impossible for him to produce the pressure, which
increased with the strength of the stream.' ...

"The usual practice, after watching a dowser at work, is for some of
the onlookers to try if the forked twig will move in their hands.
Generally speaking, one or more, out of perhaps ten or twelve persons,
discover, to their astonishment, that the twig curls up in their
hands--at the same places at which it did with the dowser. Here is such
an experience. Mrs. Hollands writes to me as follows:--

"'DENE PARK, TONBRIDGE, _October_ 9, 1899.

"'In answer to your note of inquiry about the divining rod, the
whole thing is rather a long story, but the practical result of
the water dowser's visit was to find water which now supplies
the house. One of my daughters found she had the strange power
which moves the divining rod, and it works for her now quickly
over any spring. It is most interesting, as you can feel the rod
move if you take one side of it, and take one of her hands, she
holding the other end of the rod--it struggles up, and would
break off altogether if you did not allow it to move. My
daughter has since found several springs on the estate, where we
have sunk wells. They have stood us in very good stead these
last dry seasons. MINNIE HOLLANDS.'

"A similar experience is given by Miss M. Craigie Halkett, who published
some excellent photographs of a dowser at work in _Sketch_ for 23rd
August 1899. Miss Halkett writes to me as follows:--

"LAURISTON, NEW ELTHAM, KENT,
_September_ 8, 1899.

"The man depicted in the photographs is not a water-finder by
profession. He is a tenant farmer residing at Catcolt, a
village near Bridgwater, and merely exercises the art to oblige
his neighbours. Several of the country people in this
neighbourhood (Somerset) have the gift. It has never been known
to fail. Personally I was rather sceptical on the subject, but
was converted by the stick turning in my hands when standing
over a spring. There were about six persons present at the time;
all tried it, but it would turn for no one excepting the man in
the picture and myself. I experienced a sort of tingling
sensation in my arms and wrists, but otherwise was quite una