“ The rod, when suspended by the two prongs, sometimes between the balls of the thumbs, is supposed to show by a decided inclination the spot under which the concealed mine or spring is situated. Other powers are ascribed to the divining-rod, but this is the chief. Many persons, even of some pretensions to scientific knowledge, have been believers in the occult power ascribed to this magic wand. Agricola, Sperlingius. and Kirchmayer all believe in its supernatural influence. Bayle, in his dictionary, under the word abaris, gives some ingenious arguments both for and against the divining-rod. ”