The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-04-26
WITCHING FOR WATER.
An Ancient Superstition Described in
Government Report.

or detecting criminals is a curious
superstition that has been subject
of discussion since the middle of the
sixteenth century and still has a
strong hold on the popular mind,
even in this country. This is evi-
dent from the large number of in
quiries received each year by the
United States geological survey, de-
partment of the interior, as to the
efficacy of such twig, especially for
locating underground water. TO fur
nish a reply to these inquiries the
geological survey has published
brief paper, by Arthur ]. Ellis, on
the history of water witching with a
photography that includes truly
astonishing number of books and
pamphlets on this uncanny subject.
In the summary the paper states:
It is doubtful whether so much in
vestigation and discussion have been
bestowed on any other subject with
such absolute lack of positive re-
suits. 1t is difficult to see how for
practical purposes the entire matter
could be more thoroughly discredited.
1t is by no means true that all per-
sons using a forked twig or some
other device for locating water or
other minerals are Intentional de-
ceivers. Some of them are doubtless
men of good character and beneyo-
lent intentions. However, as any
thing that can be deeply yelled in
mystery affords good opportunity
for swindlers. there can be no rea-
sonable doubt that many Of the
large group of professional finders
of water, oil or other minerals who
take pay for their services" or for
the sale of their instruments are
deliberately defrauding the people
and that the total amount of money
they obtain is large. To all inquiries
the United States geological survey
therefore gives the advice not to eX-
pend any money for the services OF
any water witch or for the use or
purchase of any machine or instru-
plent devised for locating under
ground water or other minerals.
History of the Superstition.
In tracing the history of the sub
ject it is found that divining rods,
have been used (D to locate ore de-
posits, GU to discover buried or hid
den treasure, GO to find lost land
marks and re-establish property
boundaries, (4) to detect criminals,
(5) to analyze personal character,
(S) to cure diseases, CD to trace
lost or strayed domestic animals, (S)
to insure immunity against ill for
tune by use as fetish, CO. to locate
well sites, (10) to trace the course
of underground streams, GD to de-
termine the amount of water avail
able by drilling at given spot, (12)
: to determine the depth at which wa
ter OF ores occur, (13) to determine
the direction of cardinal points, Q4)
to determine the height of trees and
(15) to analyze ores and water.
The origin of the superstition isl
lost in antiquity. What is believed
to be the first published description
of the divining rod contained in
Georrgius Agricola's DE re metal
lica," which was published in 1858.
The device became common first in
Germany as means for locating
mines and also for discovering buried
treasure, a matter of rather common
interest in those days, when the prac-
tice of burying money and plate for
safe keeping was very general. 1t
was introduced into England by Ger
man miners during the reign OF
Elizabeth (155S-1603), and before
the end of the seventeenth century
it had spread through the countries
of Europe. Everywhere it aroused
controversy. The rules prescribed
for the cutting of the twig partook
largely of heather sorcery and as
trology. There were indeed, to some
extent, unconscious "reminiscences OF
the old Scandinavian and even of the
Aryan mythology. But this heather
influence was Offset when the rod
was duly Christianized by baptism,
being laid for this purpose in the bed
with a newly baptized child, by whose
Christian name it was afterward ad-
dressed. 1t is readily conceivable
that the motive for surrounding this
practice with a religious atmosphere
might not have been altogether be-
lief in it's divine character, for at
that time anyone found engaged in
mysterious works was in danger of
l>,,ry