Really I was waiting for the sun to rise, since it was useless to attempt an operation in that light.
The man, Kalubi, thought that I had refused his petition and became terribly agitated.
"'Be merciful, White Lord,' he prayed, 'do not let me die.

I am afraid to die.

Life is bad, but death is worse.

O! If you refuse me, I will kill myself here before you and then my ghost will haunt you till you die also of fear and come to join me.

What fee do you ask?
Gold or ivory or slaves?
Say and I will give it.' "'Be silent,' I said, for I saw that if he went on thus he would throw himself into a fever, which might cause the operation to prove fatal.
For the same reason I did not question him about many things I should have liked to learn.