Arab marketplace

Some Americans were touring an Arab marketplace and one of them saw a man sitting on the ground brushing his camel.

"Excuse me, sir," the American said. "Do you know the time?"

Ammar looked at the American. The he reached over and held the camel's balls, moving them slightly. "Ten after two," he said, at last.

"My word!" said the American. He caught up to his tour group and insisted some of the others return with him, "You've never seen anything like this!" he promised.

The group went back with him. Again he asked for the time. Again Ammar reached for the camel's balls. He seemed to be weighing them as he moved them to and fro. Finally, he
announced: "Twenty- one minutes past two."

The others were amazed. They went on their way, but the first American remained. He leaned over.

"Listen," he confided to Ammar, "I'd give you anything to know how you do that. I'll give you twenty American dollars if you show me how you can tell the time by holding your camel's balls."

Ammar thought for a moment, and then nodded. Pocketing the twenty-dollar bill, he beckoned for the American to kneel down beside him on the ground. Then he took the camel's balls and gently moved them to the side, out of the way.

"Do you see that clock on the tower over there?" he asked.