Babun also did not understand the acquittal of Silindu. Things appeared to be happening around him as if he were in a dream. The interpreter came and stood in front of him and said the following sentence very fast in Sinhalese:
'You are charged under section 1010 of the Penal Code with housebreaking and theft of a box, clothing, and jewellery, in the house of the complainant, on the night of the 10th instant, and you are called on to show cause why you should not be convicted.'
'He charges you with the theft. Have you anything to say?'
'He says he knows nothing about this,' said the interpreter to the judge.
'Have you any witnesses?' said the interpreter to Babun.
'How can I have witnesses? No one will give evidence against the headman.'
'Any reason for a false charge?' asked the judge.
'Hamadoru, the headman is on very bad terms with me; he is angry with me because of my wife. He is angry with my wife's father. He wanted me to marry from another village. Then he wanted me to give my wife to the Mudalali and because I refused he is angry.'
Babun was silent. There was nothing more to say. He looked out through the great doors at the jungle. He tried to think where Beddagama was; but, looking down upon it from that distance, it was impossible to detect any landmark in the unbroken stretch of trees.
Mr. Perera got up again and began to examine Babehami.
'Have you ever had a private case before?'
'Are you on bad terms with your brother-in-law?'
'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.'
'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?'
'No; he was on bad terms with me. He said I troubled him and was a bad headman.'
'Any questions?' the interpreter asked Babun.