The Determined Merchant

Once, a merchant came to a desert with his goods packed in many carts. He was on his way to a country on the other side of the desert.

The sun shone on the fine sand, making it as hot as the top of a stove. no man could walk on it in the sunlight but at night, after the sun went down, the sand cooled, and then men could travel upon it.

So the merchant waited until after dark, and then set out. besides the goods that he was going to sell, he took jars of water and of rice, and firewood, so that the rice could be cooked.

All night long he and his men rode on and on. one man was the pilot. he rode first, for he knew the stars, and by them, he guided the drivers.