Page:More Australian legendary tales.djvu/34

 "Yonder I see a coolabah; from its roots I can drain enough to quench your thirst. Or here beside us is a bingahwingul; full of water are its roots. Let me go; I will drain them for you."

But the Bullai Bullai had no faith in his promises, and they but beat him the harder until they were exhausted. When they ceased to beat him and let him go, Weedah went on a little way, then lay down, feeling bruised all over, and thankful that the night had come and the fierce sun no longer scorched them.

One Bullai Bullai said to her sister: "Could we not sing the song our Bargie used to sing, and make the rain fall?"

"Let us try if we can make a sound with our dry throats," said the other.

"We will sing to our cousin Dooloomai the Thunder; he will hear us, and break a rain cloud for us."

So they sat down, rocking their bodies to and fro, and, beating their knees, sang:

Over and over again they sang these words as they had heard their Bargie, or grandmother, do. Then for themselves they added:

Which meant: