An Eastern Puzzle.

New Zealand Graphic, 6 April 1907, Page 40

An Eastern Puzzle.

An old Persian died, leaving seventeen camels to he divided among his three sous in the following proportions:—The eldest to have half, the second a third, and the youngest a ninth. Of course, camels cannot be divided hit ofractious, so, in despair, the brothers submitted their difference to a very wise old dervish. “Nothing easier!” said the wise Alj “I will divide the nifor you.” How did he do it? The old dervish divided tho seventeen camels into the desired proportions by adding one of his own to the number, thus making it eighteen. The eldest brother then took his half—nine; the second his thirdsix; the third his ninth —two, making seventeen in all, and giving back the one camel over to its owner, the wise dervish.