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Tamerlane, the protector of the arts, became very fond of spending his leisure time and soothing his soul in the sound of the zummarah reed pipe. Soon, from one performer, the kingly orchestra grew to no less than one hundred blindfolded pipers, replenishing the gallery above the emir's resting pavilions. When Hoca was told about Timur's new passion, he let the word spread that he, Nasrudin was the best zummarah player of the empire, too expensive for mere princes to employ. Rushed into the presence of the khan he was offered as expected to choose between a big salary or else. As you can guess, he accepted and lived thereafter a pleasant life in the rank of the court musicians. One day Timur was told by a guest that pleasure is multiplied hundred fold when you listen to one hundred reed pipe players performing alone, one after the other, rather than hearing the one hundred musicians all at the same time. After this, he ordered that each performer would delight him in turn. Long before his own turn to shine in front of the master, the Mullah felt so sick in the chest that he had to give up playing the zummarah forever.

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