When we politely begged him not to trouble, being in an irritable mood, or assuming it, he told us rudely to mind our own business.

Indeed, I think this irritability was real enough, which, in the circumstances known to the reader, was not strange.

At any rate, an hour or so later it declared itself in an act of great cruelty which showed us how absolute was this man's power in all temporal matters.
Passing through a little clump of bush we came to some gardens surrounded by a light fence through which a number of cattle of a small and delicate breed--they were not unlike Jerseys in appearance--had broken to enjoy themselves by devouring the crops.

This garden, it appeared, belonged to the Kalubi for the time being, who was furious at the destruction of its produce by the cattle which also belonged to him.
"Where is the herd ?" he shouted.
A hunt began--and presently the poor fellow--he was no more than a lad, was discovered asleep behind a bush.

When he was dragged before him the Kalubi pointed, first to the cattle, then to the broken fence and the devastated garden.