The finding stick

It was widely believed that a forked hazel rod would dip towards a vein of lead ore, a seam of coal or a spring of water, and in the mining districts men skilled with it were consulted as trustingly as the local wise man. A Bath correspondent told Hone in 1831 of a visit to a young farmer at Dundry, near Bristol, noted in those parts for his use of the divining rod, which the countryfolk called the finding stick. He cut a slight forked stick of withy from the hedge, held one fork in each hand with the stem pointing out, and walked slowly over the ground, and when he stood over the new well the stem bent down so hard it nearly broke. He also found a watch hidden under one of three hats, though the stick would not move for his visitors. Dowsing is still practised.