ABSTRACT
The rulers of Hindu Kush were very keen on a smart appearance. They issued numerous edicts on dress and personal hygiene. But the strangest one they ever issued was to the town’s hairdresser. They ordered the hairdresser to cut the hair of everyone in the town, and announced that anyone with messy hair in six months would have their head cut off. In return for this service the hairdresser would be paid one piece of silver for each haircut and, in the interests of neatness, no amateur hairdressers would be allowed-no one could cut the hair of their friends. But, to make sure the hairdresser did not try to make extra money by doing those who normally cut their own hair, they ordered the town guard to watch the hairdresser and cut off his hands if he tried to break the rule.
