The Village in the Jungle

by Leonard Woolf

'As the judge hamadoru likes.'

'Explain it to him properly,' said the judge. 'Now, look here. There is the evidence of the Korala that he found the things in your house. There is no evidence of his being a prejudiced witness. There is the evidence of Fernando that he saw you leaving the complainant's hut at night. You say that Fernando wants your wife, and that the headman is in league with him against you. At present there is no evidence of that at all. According to your story the things must have been deliberately put into your house by complainant, or Fernando—or both. Listen to what I am saying. Have you any witnesses or evidence of all this?'

'Hamadoru, how could I get witnesses of this? No one will give evidence against the headman.'

'I will adjourn the case if you want to call witnesses from the village.'

'What is the good? No one will speak the truth.'

'Well, then, you had better, in any case, give evidence yourself.'

'Get up here,' said the interpreter.

Babun got into the witness-box. He told his story. The judge asked him many questions. Then the proctor began cross examining.

'Are you on bad terms with the Korala? Do you know him well?'

'I am not on bad terms. I scarcely know him.'