There is a clash of cultures all of the time. For example, when Mark first gets to the village he witnesses the injustice and idiocy of the officals in dealing with the people. Apparently, a young child was drowned in the river and they took the child out of the water and wanted to bury him. However, in order to do so they need a permit. In their old culture this would not have been necessary. When the official arrives to write the permit he yells at the people because they moved the body! It was found in the water and the tide was coming in. Ridiculous rules imposed by the colonials offer daily frustration.