Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-12-10
Che 1polpnesian.
How to Find Water.

Is'o"es VI o,eh's Ut washington, eAntOts
some important facts on this subject, which
may not be without interest to our readers.
While they seem to establish philosophical
truth, the belief in which has usually been
considered at evidence Of great credulty, its
adaptation to some localities on these islands
may lead to important results, on some of
the upland slopes, where water is deside-
ratum The writer says:
am aware ofthe difficulty of convincing
some men that things may be facts, which
they cannot understand the why and where
fore of, or comprehend the reason for And
| know as we'll that the same sReptcsm ex-
lists as to their own existence, and as to a
thousand other facts, the reason for which
we do not comprehend any better, or more
clearly than that in reference to finding wa
ter under ground; but because they are COM
mon, and of every day occurrence, we never
think of the why and the wherefore of their
existence. They are matters of fact, land we
should be regarded as candidates for some
lunatic asylum if we questioned them.
True philosophy does not inquire for the
reasons for thing before it admits the fact OF
It's CAiStSuICS pul dSCCTtdlUS UTSt III IL De a
fact, and if it is so, then to inquire after the
reasons for il. This will be the course pur-
sued in this essay. That water runs in veins
in the earth, is fact now so universally ad-
mhted, or rather known, that no one pretends
to doubt it; and il is equally well known that
If, in digging well, the digger hits upon the
vein, he gets good spring or living water.-
But the question is, how are we to ascertain
where TO dig in order to strike this vein' or
is it a fact that some men, and even women,
can tell, by any means, where water is thus
to be found! 1t will be admitted that, If
is so, it is of more importance 10 any dry or
springless portion Of the country than turn
pixies, plank or railroads; for what is the soil
worth without living water! 1t will also be
admitted that, il Nature or Nature God has
provided an ample supply Of SO useful an el-
ement as water, running in all directions in
the bowels of the EARTH the work would be
incomplete, and man and beast might suffer,
or great portion ofthe earth must be left
barren waste, unless the same goodness
which provided the supply also provided the
means by which its location could be ascer-
tanned with more certainty than by haphaz-
ard digging. This take to be reasonable,
and if so, reason favors the probability Of
such provision. The first pointio establish
is the fact that some men can direct the we'll
digger where 10 strike the vein; and then, Sc
condfy, 10 show the law of nature by which
this is done. AS to the first point, it must be
established by facts in the mouths of compe-
tent Witnesses II is done by what is now
scientifically called Bletonism, which is def
ned by Webster to be "the faculty of per-
ceiving and indicating subterraneous springs
and currents by sensation; so called from one
Bleton, ofFrance, who possessed this facul
ty." Some call it dvining or raising the di-
vining rod; some water philosophy; and 9th
ers " water witchery."
The most ordinary instrument used is
fork, of peach, hazel, or willow, of the las,
years growth, so as to be small, slim and
full of sap. The tip ends are placed hori-
zontally in the hands, the palms of which are
upward; this brings the fork spward in the
shape of an inverted V-thus A and in the
hands Of those with whom it Will work-for
it does not work with every one-this fork
end is attracted by the water, if living spring
water, under ground, but not by dead or
standing s,agnant water; nor by what is cali
ed seep water. 1t is also attracted by silver,
iron, or other matters which attract the cleo
trio fluid; for electricity is the secret of the
matter, after ALL But to the facts:
| In 1912 | settled on a springless farm in
Ohio, expecting to obtain water by digging
we'll A neighbor of mine, who had on an
adjoining farm obtained good water only four
teen feet from the surface Of the ground, by
means Of this Betonism, urged me to try the
same means. But being of the class who
could not or rather would not, believe in
what could nd comprehend, declined re-
sorting TO what, to me as to others, appeared
to be consummate nonsense, and spent my
leisure time in the dry time of three years in
digging, but found no water. AT length, de-
spairing of finding water in this way, and
having a curiosity 10 test this new sc.ence,
invited a water philosopher" to try his skill
for me. 1t is proper TO observe that this man
was an independent farmer, man of intelli-
gence and high moral worth; and as ne per-
formed in this matter without fee or reward,
had no possible ground for suspecting any
design of humbuggery on his part And fur
|ther, he told me be knew 40 more the reason,
the why or wherefore it worked in his hands.
while il would not in those of others, than |
did. BY mere accident he ascertained that
he was I" one of EN-" and on discovering
this, he experimental until he discovered
this fact-that the rod would be attracted al
an angle of45 ., and that from the point at
which the attraction commenced to where the
attraction was perpendicular, would indicate
1.-The depth to dig to reach the water.
All this. however-his high character and
lhis explanations-did not remove my doubts.
He prepared his peach twig fork, and
placed him over a well which Ihad dug, and
was at the time full Of surface or seep-wateri
wishing, If possible, not to lose the labor thus
expended. But this seep-water had no effect