THE TOWER OF HANOÏ

AUTHENTIC BRAIN TEASER OF THE ANAMITES

A GAME BROUGHT BACK FROM TONKIN

BY PROFESSOR N. CLAUS (OF SIAM)
Mandarin of the College of Li-Sou-Stian!

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This game was found, for the first time, in the writings of the illustrious Mandarin FER-FER-TAM-TAM, which are being published, in the near future, by order of the government of China.

The TOWER OF HANOI is composed of levels, decreasing in size, variable in number, that we have represented by eight disks of wood, pierced at their centers. In Japan, in China, and at Tonkin, they are made of porcelain.

The game consists of demolishing the tower level by level, and reconstructing it in a neighboring place, conforming to the rules given.

Amusing and instructive, easy to learn and to play in town, in the country, or on a voyage, it has for its aim the popularization of science, like all the other curious and novel games of professor N. CLAUS (OF SIAM).

We can offer a prize of ten thousand francs, of a hundred thousand francs, of a million francs, and more, to anyone who accomplishes, by hand the moving of the Tower of Hanoi with sixty-four levels, following the rules of the game. We will say immediately that it would be necessary to perform successively a number of moves equal to

18 446 744 073 709 551 615
which would require more than five billion centuries!

According to an old Indian legend, the Brahmins have been following each other for a very long time on the steps of the alter in the Temple of Bernares, carrying out the moving of the Sacred Tower of Brahma with sixty-four levels in fine gold, trimmed with diamonds from Golconde. When all is finished, the Tower and the Brahmins will fall, and that will be the end of the world!

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PARIS, PEKING, TOKYO and SAIGON
At bookstores and novelty shops

1883
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All rights reserved




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Last updated 28 August 1998