The wedding guests were very excited, having drunk sufficient to loosen their tongues; the men were talkative, while the women pressed in crowds round the foot of our mats. The great difficulty was, as usual--no rice to be had. Next day we sent our men through the village to find if it were possible to procure provisions, but they only obtained sufficient for a day’s consumption. This determined us to send back to Mengkabong all our followers but six to procure supplies. We told the Ida’an of our resolve, and I think this proof of our confidence had a great effect on them; in fact, we always treated them in the same way, whether we were backed by a large force or not, and we never had to repent of our conduct towards them. CHAPTER X. SECOND ASCENT OF KINA BALU--_Continued_. Return of the Men for Rice--Readiness to assist us--New Kinds of Pitcher Plants--The Valley of Pinokok--Beautiful Nepenthes--Kina Taki--Description of the _Nepenthes Rajah_--Rocks Coated with Iron--Steep Strata--The Magnolia--Magnificent Sunset Scene--Fine Soil--Talk about the Lake--Change of Fashions--Effect of Example--Rapid Tailoring--Language the same among Ida’an, Dusun, and Bisaya--Reports--Start for Marei Parei--The Fop Kamá--Prepare Night Lodgings--Fragrant Bed--Stunted Vegetation--Appearance of Precipices--Dr. Hooker--Botanical Descriptions--_Nepenthes Rajah_--Manner of Growing--Great Size--Used as a Bucket--Drowned Rat--_Nepenthes Edwardsiana_--An Account of it--Beautiful Plants--Botanical Description of _Nepenthes Edwardsiana_--Extensive Prospects--Peaked Hill of Saduk Saduk--Noble Buttress--Situation for Barracks--Nourishing Food--Deep Valleys--Familiar Intercourse with the Villagers--Turning the Laugh--Dirty Faces--Looking-glasses--Their Effect--Return of our Followers--Start for the Mountain--Rough Cultivation--The Mountain Rat used as Food--Our Old Guides--Difficult Walking--Scarlet Rhododendron--Encamp--Double Sunset--_Nepenthes Lowii_--Botanical Description--_Nepenthes Villosa_--Botanical Description--Extensive View of the Interior of Borneo--The Lake--The Cave--Ascend to the Summit--Its Extent and Peculiarities--Distant Views--North-western Peak--Severe Storm--Injured Barometer--Useless Thermometers--Dangerous Descent--Accidents--Quartz in Crevices--Clean and Pleasant Girls--Friendly Parting--Ida’an Sacrifices--Return by Koung--Kalawat and Nilu--Death of Sahat--A Thief--Cholera-Incantations and Method of Treatment--Arrival at Gantisan--Fine Wharf--The Pangeran--Bad Weather--Heavy Squall--Little Rice to be had--Sail--Anchor at Gaya Island--Curious Stones--Fish--Description of a Magnificent Kind--Poisonous Fins--Set Sail--Awkward Position--Water-spout--Admiralty Charts--Names require Correcting--Serious Mistake--Among the Shoals--Fearful