the damask will have risen to the surface; take the composition off, and immerse
the blade in the water of a young cocoa-nut, or the juice of a pineapple, for seven
days longer, and wash it well with the juice of a sour lemon. After the rust has
been cleared away, rub it with warangan (arsenic) dissolved in lime juice; wash
it well with spring water; dry, and anoint it with cocoa-nut oil.
“FASL IV.—MEASUREMENT OF KRISES
“Measure the kris with a string below its aring (a jutting out of the blade near its
bottom) to its point; cut the string and fold it trebly; cut off one of the trebles,
and with the remaining two measure up the blade of the kris, then make a mark
how far the string reaches. Measure the blade across at this mark, and find how
many times its breadth is contained in two-thirds of its length; cut the string into
as many pieces. These form the sloca, or measure, of which the kris consists. If
none of the string remain over, the blade is perfect, if a minute portion remain, it
is less perfect, but if half the breadth remain, or more, it is chelaka, unlucky.”
Newbold adds:—
“The krises most preferred are those of the kinds termed Simpana, Cherita, and
Sapokal. The kris panjang is worn generally by the Malayan aristocracy and
bridegrooms. I have seen some beautiful specimens of this weapon in Rumbowe,
worn by the chiefs of that state. The blades resembled that of a long, keen
poniard of Damascus steel; the handles of ebony, covered with flowered gold,
and sheaths richly ornamented with the same metal; they are used in the
execution of criminals. Malays do not prize their krises entirely by the quantity
of gold with which they may be inlaid, but more for their accurate proportions
agreeably to the measurement which is laid down in their treatises on this
subject; the damask on the blade; the antiquity and a certain lucky quality that
they may possess either from accurate proportions, the damask, the having shed
human blood, or from supernatural endowment, like the famous sword
“Excalibur.” This property is termed betuah, which signifies literally exempt
from accident, invulnerable. The reverse is termed chelaka, ill-omened. They
believe the betuah in some cases imparts invulnerability to the possessor of such
a kris, which is handed down as an heirloom from father to son, and honoured as
something divine. The kris is, as with the Javanese, an indispensable article in
dress on particular occasions, and there are numerous regulations regarding the
wearing of it. The Undang Undang Malacca^205 contains strict injunctions, which