Yesterday the Orang Kaya Upit went in search of the Merasam people, who had agreed to accompany the expedition; they are full of delays, but talk of following to-morrow: I shall push on to look for other guides in case these fail us; every day’s delay lessens our stock of food; I have tried to procure some rice in these villages, but nothing is to be had. In fact, they will seldom sell me any food, as the Borneans would make that an excuse to squeeze more out of them after my departure. The Orang Kaya has begged for one of my sampirs, and as it is on my business he is going, the request is but reasonable, so I have given him one, and also some cloth to procure provisions. We pushed on at 9 A.M., and as we advanced we found all the villages deserted on account of the cholera; the visitation was nearly over, but the Muruts were too alarmed to return to their houses; as no one was to be found at Bidang, the residence of the Orang Kaya Napur, an Adang man, we continued our course to Danau, where it was said we should find him; but on arriving, we heard that he was some distance inland; I therefore sent old Japer to look for him. 5 P.M.--Here is the Orang Kaya Napur, but there is evidently no getting him to accompany us; he has many reasons for not going, some of them good ones; among others, he is planting his rice farm. I explained I only wanted a guide, not a train of followers. Towards evening my old friend Orang Kaya Panglima Prang, of the village of Blimbing, came to see me; he followed me to Molu in both of my former expeditions, and is half inclined to come now, but as he does not know the country beyond six days’ pull, he would not be very useful. He has deserted Blimbing, having too few followers to hold his own even against a small Kayan expedition, and so now he lives here until the Pañgeran Tumanggong can afford him some support, not very likely to be given at present. The cholera has attacked all the villages, but does not seem to have carried off many; the fright was great, and still continues, so that most of the people are yet living in the woods. All those who do not expect to be connected with my expedition, say that this is the proper season, and that the rain is exceptional, while the others whom I want to accompany me, assure me that by waiting two months I shall have fine weather. It certainly looks rainy, but we must do our best even if freshes do come down, and we may yet reach Adang by perseverance. This place is called Danau, on account of a diminutive lake, or large pond, that lies at the back of the village; the entrance, now dry, is at the end of the reach ahead.