294. Rain-making: (A) In the Boulia District.—With the exception of perhaps a few of the Yunda tribe, there are no individuals in the Boulia District who know how to make rain. When rain is wanted here at Boulia, word is sent down to the Miorli men at Springvale or the Diamantina Grates to come up and make some. This special performance, carried out with a rain-stick (Fig. 408a.), a song, and a dance, takes place somewhat as follows:—The rain-stick, koo-roo-mun-do, is formed of a thin piece of a species of “white” wood, about 20 inches long, on to the top of which is fixed a mass of the ordinary cementing-substance: into this the three “rain-stones,” pieces of white quartz-crystal, are stuck. Hair cut from the beard is next laid lengthwise on to the cement, and fixed an inch or so below it: over this again are laid leafy branches of “white” wood which is all tied round with string, somewhat after the manner of a straw broom. Three or four of such sticks may be used in the ceremony. At about mid-day, the men proceed to a secluded waterhole, one or more of their number having been previously deputed to dive into the water and fix a hollowed log, about the length and thickness of a man's arm, vertically down into the mud.