There was once a sultan of India who had three sons: Houssain, Ali, and Ahmed. With princess Nouronnihar, his niece, they were the ornaments of his court. The sultan’s Brother died young, so the Sultan brought her up with the three princes. Her singular beauty and personal accomplishments distinguished her among all the princesses of her time. All three brothers wanted to marry the princess, so the Sultan promised marriage to the one that brought him the most extraordinary curiosity. After they wished each other success, they mounted their horses, and each took a different road. Prince Houssain set his course toward India. He traveled over deserts and barren mountains through populous and fertile countries until he arrived at Bisnagar. There he found a multitude of shops stocked with the finest linens, silks, and brocades from India, Persia, China, and other places. There was porcelain from Japan and China, carpets of all sizes, goldsmiths, jewelers, and flowers. He could not believe his eyes and was amazed to see so many riches in one place. Houssain saw a crier pass by with a piece of carpet on his arm, about six feet square, and cry it a thirty purses.

The prince called to the crier and asked to see the carpet, which seemed to be valued at an exorbitant price for its size. “Certainly,” said Prince Houssain, “it must have something very extraordinary about it?” “You have guessed right, sir,” replied the crier, “Whoever sits on this piece of carpet may be transported wherever he desires to go without being stopped by any obstacle.” After some negotiations, Prince Houssain became the possessor of the carpet, which he never doubted would gain him the hand of the Princess.

Prince Ali, the second brother, traveled into Persia with a caravan and, after four months of traveling, arrived at Schiraz. Having made friends on the way with some merchants, he passed for a jeweler and lodged in the same khan with them. Prince Ali entered the quarter where they sold precious stones, gold and silver work, brocades, silks, fine linens, and other choice merchandise. Among all the criers who passed with several things to sell, he saw one who held an ivory tube about a foot in length and cried it at thirty purses. At first, he thought the crier was mad and confronted him….