If it falls on either side it is bad, and if it requires four measurements (instead of three) it is very bad, though five would be good. There will never be more than five.
This measurement is called the Malay measurement (Ukoran Malayu) as distinguished from
2. The Bugis’ measurement (Ukoran Bugis), which is made nearer the hilt, as follows:—Begin as before, but measure off the remaining two-thirds from the point instead of the hilt. This will give a mark farther up the blade, and the strip of leaf must then be folded round the k’ris to see where the notch (between the second and third divisions) will come on the blade. The number of times which the breadth of the k’ris will go into the third division is now of no importance. Merely measure from the end of the third division as before, continuing until the notch is right over the blade. If it comes at the left side of the blade it is good, but if in the centre or on the right it is unlucky.
3. Another method, called Ukor Toh Mujud Dato’ Lukut (the measurement of Toh Mujud, chief or founder of Lukut), is used especially by Selangor Malays. The story goes that Toh Mujud’s wife was unfaithful with a Kedah man, and that her husband, being jealous to desperation, searched everywhere in vain for a k’ris which would settle his adversary. At length, however, in a dream a vision appeared to him, and told him to look for a k’ris sapukal in the possession of a man who was digging up rĕmis or tepeh (a kind of mollusc?). Toh Mujud went accordingly to look for the man, and on meeting with one so occupied at Pulau Labuhan Bilek, near Tanjong Tuan, found that he had a very old and rusty k’ris, which he thereupon bought from him for 25 cents. Armed with this k’ris Toh Mujud then found and slew his adversary, and the proportions of the lucky weapon corresponded with the measurement here given.
Fold the string or strip of leaf, and cut it in half. Take one of the halves, fold it, and measure from the point upwards as far as it will go. Mark the spot, and measure off the string in breadths of the k’ris at that spot: there must be ten breadths, and at the measuring of the tenth the end of the string must be in the centre of the blade, if it is to be of any use.
Then take the other half, fold it also in two, and measure up from the bottom of the blade as far as the folded string will go: there must be seven breadths of the blade in the length of the half string, and the end of the string should come within a hair’s-breadth of the edge of the blade, or, as the Malays say, “leaving space for an ant to pass.”
4. Another method is known as the Ukoran Gĕnap, or Ukor Mandar (of Celebes).
Fold the string in two, and measure off the half-length thus obtained on the blade, commencing at the bottom. Then see how many times the breadth of the blade is contained in the whole length of the string, which should be fourteen.
5. Another way of measuring, to see how many thumbs’-breadths there are in the length of the blade, is as follows. It is not considered of much importance:—Lay the right thumb across the foot of the blade near the hilt, and the thumb of the left hand also on the blade immediately above the other; continue placing the thumbs alternately one in front of the other until the point is reached, repeating for the first thumb’s-breadth the word gunong (mountain), for the second runtoh (fall), for the third madu (honey), for the fourth sĕgara (ocean), after which recommence with gunong, and so on. If gunong or madu brings the thumb to the point the blade is a good one, but not if it is runtoh or sĕgara.
6. Another measurement is thus described:—Put the tip of the right thumb upon the spot where the hilt joins the blade, with the back of the first joint against the blade; next to this put the left thumb horizontally across the blade, and continue to alternate the first joint of the right thumb with the breadth of the left till the point of the k’ris is reached, repeating as follows:—