Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-12-10

DToke ana gave way. Wnen saw thiS
gave it up. What l saw with my own eyes,
and that too against strong preiudices, | could
not doubt. He selected the point where the
dip of the rod was strongest, and measured
the depth by the 45 c rule, and stuck the
stake to dig by; and in the ensuing autumn.
when all was dry, dug, and found the depth,
quantity and quality of the water Just as be
had told me. With such facts before me,
could no longer disbelieve, because had not
then ascertained the reasons for It, or the
law of nature by, which such events were
brought about. Shortly after this | saw
statement in the public prints.-taken, be-
lieye from the Cultirator, of New York, over
the signature ofa respectable Quaker OF that
State,-to the following effect: A friend OF
his called upon him, and among other things.
his farm, its beauty and high state Of cultiva-
ton, came up as topic Of conversation, and
the owner observed that he would sell It at
half its value, because there was no living or
spring water on it, His friend inquired,
"Why don't thee digs" have," was
the reply, "dug several wells, some OF them
ninety feet deep, and get nothing but seep-
water, which is not good" But" contin-
ued his friend, "why don't thee get water
philosopher 10 tell thee where to dig!"-
" Because don't believe in such nonsense;
won't believe in anything of the kind for
which can see no reason, andthere Is no
reason why such a rod will work in one mans
hands, and not in another's." But his friend
was not to be put off with so stale an argu-
ment 50 But thou mayest believe it whether
thou canst comprehend it or not, for have
proved it, and know it to be true; and If thou
wiltget good philosopher, one that has been
proved, and dig where he tells thee, i. thou
dost not find water, will pay all thy exPen-
ses." His friend was so urgent, and withei
so liberal, he could do no less in courtesy
than try it. He did so, and the operator
fixed upon a site near the corner Of his house,
on the side towards the barn, from which the
barn yard could be easily supplied, and liked
upon twenty feet as the depth TO dig. HE
paid the man his dollar and told him,
have called for thee and will pay thy char
ges; but do not believe word thou sayest,
for here and there, within few feet OF the
place thou hast fixed upon, have dug nine-
ty feet, and found no such spring as thou
tellest of; bot If do find it as thou sayest,
will give thee fifty dollars" The result was,
he dug, found water as told, paid the man
his fifty dollars, got him to select several
other sites on the farm for wells for stock,
and published his discovery for the benefit OF
his fellow-men who might be in like igno-
rance and prejudice, and as much to their
own damage as his was to him.
The law which governs in this matter IS
thus explained
l. That wonderful fluid called electricity
is distributed throughout the whole earth,
but some bodies generate or imbbe more OF
it than Others Those that contain more than
their natural proportion are said to be posi-
firely, and those which contain less, to be re
gaiirely charged.
2. One of the established laws of electrici-
ty is found in the fact that two bodies, both
positireiy or both negaiirely charged, invaria-
bly, repeI each other; while il one is positive-
Iy. and the other negatively charged, they
uniformly attract each other.
3. 1t is well known that the best subterra-
mean conductors are beds Of ore or native
metals, and veins of water. 1t is their ma
ture to extract the latent fluid from surrounds
ing objects, and absorb it themselves; hence
where these exist there will be the most cleo
tricity.
d. In general, the human body is also
good conductor, but there are some excep-
tions. Some men usually generate or i'm
bibe the negative and positive in such equal
quantities as 10 maintain an equilibrium in
their systems; the rods in the hands of such
will moi be sensibly affected; others are sur
charged, and have more than their share,
and produce positive electricity. Such, it is
said, if they have black hair, will, if rubbed
in cold weather, emit sparks.
S. An individual ming very small
amount of electricity, or who is highly nega-
lively charged, (aud only such can operate,l
if he takes the rod in his hands, and passes
over surface beneath which there is
stream of water, or a stratum of ore, by the
unchangng laws of nature, The rod must De
affected; and consequently sensation will
be produced in him who holds II. The per-
son making the experiment IS highly mega
tiyelv cbarged--that is, has but little of the
fluid in him; the water beneath his feet has
absorbed the electricity ofthe adjacent bodies
in the earth; the elastic twig in his hands
forms part os the connexion between the
positive and negative poles; and two bodies.
The one positively, and the other negatively
CHARGED. by a law of nature, always attract
each other; and under such circumstances
most unauestionably the twig will be attract
ed downwards towards the water, and the
operator will feel it as well as see It.
6. Ifthe experimenter is positively charg-
ed. like the water below, his system having
produced or imbibed large portion OF the
latent fluid by the law already referred to.
there will be repusion; the twig, instead
of bending downward toward the water. will
bend backward toward himself, and the re-
suit will be equally perceptible.
A SENSIBLE LApY.-''Ah!" said old Mrs. :
Doosenbury, learning is great thing I've
often felt the need Of II. Why, would you