To one side of the village, Hosamanehalli, flowed the Sharavathi. On the other was Sita Parvatha. This was no mountain despite its name; it was a hillock. Its back was lush with forestlands but its head was bald. During the times of the Ramayana, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana had crossed the Sharavathi and rested in a cave on top of this hill. Now, sprawled at its foot were five families, three areca plantations and three rice fields. Of the five families, three were those of the landlords, the other two of bonded labourers, bonded since birth....