Indonesian units of measurement
A number of units of measurement were used in Indonesia to measure length, mass, capacity, etc. Metric system adopted in 1923 and has been compulsory in Indonesia since 1938.[1]
Contents
System before metric system
Old Dutch and local measures were used under Dutch East Indies. Local measures were very variable, and later they have been legally defined with their metric equivalents.[2]
Length
A number of units were used to measure length. One depa was equal to 1.70 m by its legal definition.[2][1] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:
1 hasta = 1/4 depa
Mass
A number of units were used to measure mass.
Ordinary
One pikol (or one pecul) was equal to 61.761 302 5 kg by its legal definition.[2] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:
1 thail = 1/1600 pikol
1 catti = 1/100 pikol
1 kabi = 1/100 pikol
1 kulack = 0.0725 pikol
1 amat = 2 pikol
1 small bahar = 3 pikol
1 large bahar = 4.5 pikol
1 timbang = 5 pikol
1 kojang (Batavia) = 1 667.555 kg
1 kojang (Semarang) = 1 729.316 kg
1 kojang (Soerabaya) = 1 852.839 kg.[2]
For precious metals
One thail was equal to 54.090 kg by its legal definition.[2] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:
1 wang = 1/48 thail
1 tali = 1/16 thail
1 soekoe = 1/8 thail
1 reaal = 1/2 thail.[2]
For opium
One thail was equal to 38.601 kg by its legal definition.[2] Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:
1 tji = 0.1 thail
1 tjembang Mata = 0.001 thail
1 hoen = 0.001 thail.[2]
Area
Several units were used to measure area. One bahoe (or 1 bouw) was equal to 7096.5 m2 and lieue2 (Geographic) was equal to 55.063 2 km by its legal definition.[2]
Capacity
Two systems, dry and liquid, were used to measure capacity.
Dry
Several units were used to measure dry capacity. One kojang was equal to 2 011.267 9 l by its legal definition.[2] One pikol was equal to 1/30 kojang.[2]
Liquid
A number of units were used to measure liquid capacity. Some other units and their legal equivalents are given below:
1 takar (for oil) = 25.770 l
1 kit (for oil) = 15.159 l
1 koelak (for oil) = 3.709 l
1 kan (for various products) = 1.575 l
1 mutsje (for various products) = 0.151 6 l
1 pintje (for oil) = 0.075 8 l.[2]
Sumatra
Several local units were used in Sumatra.
Length
Units for length included:
1 etto = 2 jankal
1 hailoh = 2 etto
1 tung = 4 hailoh = 12 ft.[3]
Capacity
Units for capacity included:
1 koolah = 2.117 3 bushel
1 pakha = 0.145 35 gallon.[3]
Mass
Units for mass included:
1 catty = 2.118 lb
1 maund = 77 lb
1 pecul = 133 1/3 lb
1 candil = 423 1/2 lb
1 ootan (for camphor) = 4 lb.[3]
Java
Several local units were used in Java. Old Dutch units too were in use, and other units were varied for example one town to another.:[4]
Length
One covid was equalt to 3/4 yard and other units were Dutch.[4]
Mass
Units for mass included:
1 gantang (for coffee) = 10 catties
1 pecul = 100 catties = 135.631 2 lb
1 bahar (at Bantam; used for pepper) = 406.78 lb
1 bahar (at Batavia) = 610.17 lb
1 timbang (for grain) = 677.962 5 lb
1 tael (at Bantam) = 0.151 1 lb
1 tael (at Batavia) = 0.0847 lb.[3]
Capacity
Units for capacity included:
1 kanne = 0.394 gallon
1 legger (for arrack) = 160.0 gallon
1 bambou (at Bantam) = 0.092 23 bushel
1 koyang = 147.568 bushel
1 koyang (at Batavia; measure for rise) = 62 432 bushel.[3]
Celebes (Modern Sulawesi)
Units were resemble or identical with the units of neighbouring islands under Netherlands.[5]
Mass
One pecul was equal to 135.64 lb.[5]
Molucca Islands
Dutch units and other units resembling the units in Java, Sumatra, etc. were used.[6]
Amboyna
Mass
Units included:
1 bahar = 597.61 lb
1 mace = 28 1/2 grain
1 tael = 55.337 1 bushel.[6]
Ternate
Mass
One catty was equal to 1.301 7 lb.[6]
References
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