Units of measurement used in Indonesia
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]
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
1 kilan = 1 ⁄8 depa.[ 2] [ 1]
Mass
A number of units were used to measure mass.
Ordinary
One pikol (or one pecul) was equal to 61.7613025 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) = 27 pikol = 1667.555 kg
1 kojang (Semarang) = 28 pikol = 1729.316 kg
1 kojang (Soerabaya) = 30 pikol = 1852.839 kg.[ 2]
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 = 1 ⁄10 thail
1 tjembang Mata = 1 ⁄1000 thail
1 hoen = 1 ⁄1000 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 55.0632 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 2011.2679 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) = 0.1516 L
1 pintje (for oil) = 0.0758 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 feet.[ 3]
Capacity
Units for capacity included:
1 koolah = 2.1173 bushel
1 pakha = 0.14535 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 equal 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 = 135.6312 lb
1 bahar (at Bantam ) = 396 lb
1 bahar (at Bantam ; used for pepper) = 406.78 lb
1 bahar (at Batavia ) = 610.17 lb
1 timbang (for grain) = 677.9625 lb
1 tael (at Bantam ) = 0.1511 lb
1 tael (at Batavia ) = 0.0847 lb.[ 3]
Capacity
Units for capacity included:
1 kanne = 0.394 gallons
1 legger (for arrack) = 160.0 gallons
1 bambou (at Bantam ) = 0.09223 bushels
1 koyang = 147.568 bushels
1 koyang (at Batavia ; measure for rise) = 62432 bushels.[ 3]
Units were resemble or identical with the units of neighbouring islands under Netherlands.[ 5]
Mass
One pecul was equal to 135.64 lb.[ 5]
Dutch units and other units resembling the units in Java, Sumatra, etc. were used.[ 6]
Mass
Units included:
1 bahar = 597.61 lb
Sus1 mace = 28+ 1 ⁄2 grain
1 tael = 55.3371 bushel.[ 6]
Mass
One catty was equal to 1.3017 lb.[ 6]
References
^ a b c Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins . London: Springer. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology . New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. pp. 5 , 6. Retrieved 8 February 2015 . international critical hellotables 1926.
^ a b c d e Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations . New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 71.
^ a b Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations . New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 49.
^ a b Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations . New York: D. Appleton & Company. p. 22.
^ a b c Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations . New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 52–53.
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