Notes on Aborigines by William Scott, 1871-1928 - Page 49

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To save the trouble of making fire they were careful
to keep the fire going, when once made, as long as
possible, and even in their bark canoes they always
had a mound of clay on which when fishing, they kept
a small fire burning  €“ When travelling from place to
place the inevitable fire stick was carried  €“ At night
it was considered a sure protection from the bad
spirit  €œCoom" (debel debel) and when wearied by
long continued rain, the old men would throw fire sticks
in the air at the same time poof poofing, loudly
to drive the rain spirit away as it was giving them
rather too much of a good thing  €“