The Cunning Seller

A certain man stood in the marketplace holding a small box in his hands. He was praising his wares—pieces of tin and a handful of crushed herbs—and assured that any buyer could turn this tin into gold.

Ahmet was passing by. Hearing the seller's words, he stopped and asked:
- How can such a miracle be done?
- Very simple, - replied the owner of the box, - take a piece of tin and place it in a pot, then put the pot on the fire. When the tin melts, pour in a pinch of crushed herbs and stir the contents for two hours. Then you will see that a gold ingot will appear at the bottom of the pot.

Delighted, Ahmet bought the largest piece of tin from the seller, clutched a handful of crushed herbs in his fist, and headed home. But before he had taken a few steps, he heard the box's owner calling him. Ahmet returned.

- I forgot to warn you, - said the seller, - when you stir the melting tin, do not, under any circumstances, think of a dancing white bear. Otherwise, nothing will work out for you.
Ahmet laughed:
- Why on earth would I suddenly think of a white bear? I have no business with it.
When he got home, Ahmet told his wife and daughters everything and, after shooing them out of the kitchen, cheerfully set to work.

Ahmet placed the tin in the pot, put the pot on the fire, and when the tin melted, he poured in a pinch of herbs and began vigorously stirring the contents.
An hour passed, then two, two and a half hours.

Finally, his wife, unable to wait any longer, cracked open the door and asked:
- Well, is the gold real?
- It must be the devil himself meddling in this! - wiping sweat from his brow, the exhausted Ahmet replied to her. - I've lived fifty-three years in this world and have never seen a dancing white bear—neither in reality nor in my dreams. But now, when I'm not supposed to think about it, it keeps haunting me everywhere. It dances before my eyes—on the floor, on the shelves, on the table. Even when I look into the pot, I see a dancing white bear there too.

More fairy tales

• 2. Sinbad the Sailor (The Second Voyage)
• The Beggar and Happiness
• 3. Sinbad the Sailor (The Third Voyage)
• The Evil Wizard
• The Queen of Spirits and Snakes