Culture: Limhi succinctly summarizes their social/economic situation. In addition to his genuine joy at restoring the contact with their own people, Limhi immediately feels an upsurge of hope that Zarahemla will provide a powerful ally who will free them from Lamanite oppression. How could Limhi assume in one sentence that the Nephites in Zarahemla were dead and, in the next, assume that they were sufficiently numerous and powerful to prevail against the Lamanites? This transition occurs so quickly that it suggests omitted parts in the exchange between Ammon and Limhi. Either Ammon told Limhi more about the situation in Zarahemla, or Limhi assumed that Zarahemla was reasonably powerful if it were able to spare and outfit the search party.
Limhi’s assertion that it is better to be slaves to the Nephites than tributaries of the Lamanites is probably hyperbole. For the statement to be literally true, Limhi would have to have a knowledge of Nephite slavery, which Benjamin has made clear does not exist among his people. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine the level of destitution required for kinsmen to become slaves. More likely, Limhi is rhetorically exaggerating their pain to elicit the assistance in a fight about which Ammon, as yet, knows nothing.