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Subj:.....The Merchant Of Bagdad (S629)           From the book              "Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd"            Edited by Martin Gardner            From: Dover Publications in 1959   Show how the merchant measured the wine and water.  A merchant of Bagdad who catered to the wants of pilgrams who crossed the desert, was once confronted by the following perplexing problem.  He was visited by the leader of a caravan, who desired to purchase a store of wine and water.  Presenting three ten-gallon vessels, he asked that three gallons of wine be put in the first, three gallons of water in the second, and three of wine and three of water mixed in the third, and three gallons of water be given to each of his thirteen camels. As water and wine, according to Oriental usage, are sold only in quantities of even number of gallons, the merchant had only a two and a four gallon measure wherewith to perform a feat which presents some unexpected difficulties.  Nevertheless, without resorting to any tricks or device, or expedient not used in measuring problems of this type, he dispensed the water from a full hogshead (63 gallons), and the wine from a full barrel (31½ gallons), in the required proportions, without any waste whatever.  In how few manipulations can the feat be performed, counting every time liquid is drawn from one receptacle to another as a manipulation?

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