Puzzle help
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
DavidCrow wrote:
Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
The problem is that you didn't tell us how many people you actually have. Edit: Actually, I don't think it matters. I thought at first it might be unsolvable at suitably small numbers, but now I think it might be unsolvable at any number. I think your setup must be flawed because:
DavidCrow wrote:
If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you.
So if you ever have more cannibals than pirates (even 99 vs 98) then you lose?
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
DavidCrow wrote:
I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal)
That leaves 1 pirate with 2 cannibals on the first shore... EDIT: Sorry, this isn't necessarily true... I was thinking 3/3...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
I think you need Captain Kirk to reprogram the puzzle.
BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff
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DavidCrow wrote:
I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal)
That leaves 1 pirate with 2 cannibals on the first shore... EDIT: Sorry, this isn't necessarily true... I was thinking 3/3...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
Actually I think there must be a flaw in the setup, regardless of whether or not it's 3/3 or 100/100. The rules say if you are outnumbered by cannibals, you will get eaten. So if I take 2 pirates and 1 cannibal and put them in the boat, then I've left 99 cannibals and 98 pirates, so the pirates are outnumbered!
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Actually I think there must be a flaw in the setup, regardless of whether or not it's 3/3 or 100/100. The rules say if you are outnumbered by cannibals, you will get eaten. So if I take 2 pirates and 1 cannibal and put them in the boat, then I've left 99 cannibals and 98 pirates, so the pirates are outnumbered!
I think you are correct. Seems there's a similar puzzle using foxes and chickens or some such, but it normally has specific number of each. Here I think we're going to need to sacrifice a pirate or two.
BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff
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Actually I think there must be a flaw in the setup, regardless of whether or not it's 3/3 or 100/100. The rules say if you are outnumbered by cannibals, you will get eaten. So if I take 2 pirates and 1 cannibal and put them in the boat, then I've left 99 cannibals and 98 pirates, so the pirates are outnumbered!
Wjousts wrote:
Actually I think there must be a flaw in the setup
That's the same realization I was coming to... I think its impossible...
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
maybe there are some loop holes:
DavidCrow wrote:
your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water
Ok, you get them safely across... then kill them and go back for more.
DavidCrow wrote:
The boat may be manned by one person
Or, you may tie a rope the the boat to pull it back to the first shore.
Be The Noise
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Well the problem describes them as "booty", so draw your own conclusions as to what they intent to do with them.
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I think you are correct. Seems there's a similar puzzle using foxes and chickens or some such, but it normally has specific number of each. Here I think we're going to need to sacrifice a pirate or two.
BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff
Yeah, that's the usual version. It something like a farmer, a fox, chicken and a bag of grain. You can't leave the fox with the chicken or the chicken with the grain. So the farmer has to take the fox and the chicken across. Then bring the chicken back, then take the chicken and the grain across (or something similar). Quite why the farmer even wants the damn fox isn't explained!
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
There is obviously no solution. You cannot leave a cannible with only one pirate, and you cannot let the cannibals outnumber the pirates on either bank. First time you cross with a cannibal, you need two pirates, but that means that the pirates that are left on the other bank are outnumbered => eaten. When you get to the other side, you cannot get the boat back accross without leaving the cannibal with only a single pirate. I would go back to the source to discover where you screwed up.
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Ohhh, well, man eating booty is much different than cannibals. Probably lost in translation.
You see that line there just to the left of you? You know what line that is, right? Yes, the KSS line. Just sayin'.
BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff
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There is obviously no solution. You cannot leave a cannible with only one pirate, and you cannot let the cannibals outnumber the pirates on either bank. First time you cross with a cannibal, you need two pirates, but that means that the pirates that are left on the other bank are outnumbered => eaten. When you get to the other side, you cannot get the boat back accross without leaving the cannibal with only a single pirate. I would go back to the source to discover where you screwed up.
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
You screwed up the problem; there are a number of similar problems with varying restrictions, and it looks like you added restrictions from two different problems. You can either have the no-outnumbering restriction or the no-alone restriction, not both; those are from two different problems.
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
Cut each cannibal into thirds, then have each pirate carry one third across, two at a time. Re-assembly is left as an exercise for the student.
Will Rogers never met me.
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Cut each cannibal into thirds, then have each pirate carry one third across, two at a time. Re-assembly is left as an exercise for the student.
Will Rogers never met me.
Good plan. I'd also suggest putting a number on each piece of the same cannibal to make it easier to get the correct pieces back together.
BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff
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On a moments notice, I presented the following puzzle to a youth group last night. After 15-20 minutes, they had not found a solution. As a matter of fact, they could not make one complete trip across the river and back. As we were out of time, I told them I'd work on it and get back with them on a future Monday.
Set out three chairs to denote seating in a boat.
Identify two opposite shorelines—about 5 feet apart. Place the chairs in the center to denote the boat that goes back and forth between the opposite shores. Create two groups of equal count (leader can play to make count even)—one group of “pirates” and the other group of “cannibals.”
Explain: “Pirates, your objective is to take your captive cannibals safely across this body of water (pointing) to your home island (pointing to other side). Your mode of transportation is this boat (pointing to chairs), which accommodates only three people at a time. You’ll get in and out of the boat to identify who’s on board either going or coming from your home island.
“Your booty—the cannibals—are very dangerous. If you are alone with one, the cannibal will eat you. If you are outnumbered by the cannibals, they will eat you. The boat may be manned by one person, but don’t let a cannibal be left alone anywhere as he or she will escape...and maybe take the boat! Given the rising tide, you need to get everyone to the safety of your home island in the next 10 minutes.
Monitor to make sure cannibals do not outnumber pirates on either shore or in the boat, and that cannibals are not left alone.
When I got around to looking at it last night, I too could not find a solution. I only found one way to initially get across the river (2 pirates & 1 cannibal), but then could not find a way to make it back across.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Show me a community that obeys the Ten Commandments and I'll show you a less crowded prison system." - Anonymous
Is it possible to tie the cannibals up before you leave? tie them up in a chair and the chair to the boat? Or this might work "kill one and you might save a thousand" - Wanted