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.
- 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.”
- 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.