Egypt: Ali Baba & the 40 Thieves

There once lived in a town of Persia two brothers.

One named Cassim and the other, Ali Baba. Cassim married a rich wife and Ali Baba married a woman as poor as himself. One day when Ali Baba was in the forest, he saw at a distance a great cloud of dust which seemed to approach him. He saw a body of horsemen who are robbers and they infested the forest often.

Ali Baba concealed himself by hiding behind a huge branch of a tree he climbed up. The horsemen, which numbered forty, all well mounted and armed, came to the foot of the tree and there dismounted.

Then, the leader of the horsemen, said these words, " Open Sesame ! ". With that, a huge rock moved and these men entered through the door. After staying some time within the rocky cave, the door opened and all the horsemen came out. The leader said these words, " Close Sesame ! ". The door closed.

A story about greed, treasures and wealth.