The Village in the Jungle

by Leonard Woolf

'There is a Government Order that chenas are only to be given to fit persons. The accused is not a fit person: he could do work, but he is lazy. Therefore chenas were refused to him. He thought that I had done this. It was a Kachcheri Order from the agent Hamadoru. Last week he was very angry and threatened me because of it. The Mudalali heard him.'

'Is the Mudalali a friend of yours?'

'How could he be, aiya? He is a mahatmaya of Kamburupitiya. I am only a village man. How could he be a friend of mine? He comes to the village merely to collect debts due to him.'

'And when he comes, you let him stay in the unoccupied house next to yours. Otherwise you do not know him?'

'Yes, that is true, aiya.'

'Is the Korala related to you?'

'No.'

'A friend of yours?'

'No; he was on bad terms with me. He said I troubled him and was a bad headman.'

Mr. Perera sat down.