Field guide for practical measurements
I: measuring distances
Measuring distances is mandatory for any traveler and merchant. This chapter gives the main references of distances as well as measuring techniques and tools. The main units have been firstly defined as common, practical ways of roughly measuring objects and travel time. The work of the Service introduced a standardized method of measurement and standard units, to enable a general, normalised and more precise use of distance.
A- Units:
-Dactyl (d): referenced as the length of the index's apex phalange on an average hand.
-Crossfinger / cross (k): referenced as the average distance between the thumb and little finger at their maximal extend.
-Cord (c) : referenced as one length of cord in production.
-Ride (r) : referenced as the distance covered in one day (8h) traveled on heaver's back.
All units are normalized with the standard cord, stored in the Chamber of references, in Amaal.
1r = 1000c | 1c= 100k | 1k=10d
B- Measurement practice:
- To measure small distances, simple measuring sticks are commonly used. They are marked in tenths of daxtyls (d/10). Measuring sticks of 5, 10, 20, 50 dactyls can be used. However, these tools are not very precise for very small distances. Experts or people who need to measure precisely very small distances use a series of measuring compasses, that are directly referenced by the Chamber of References in Amaal.
- Measurements of longer distances are often made with a standard length of cord. since the cord was the first unit to be standardized, and since it is the reference of all units, a lot of standard cords have been produced and are stored in the main cities, often by the lord's services. Cord producers also create standard cords as measurement tools. A measurement cord is divided by a series of coloured threads tied around the main line, and the cord is divided in crosses.
- To measure the longer distances such as rides, the new method used is the distance poles. It is an item used by geographs. To measure distances, one person must stand with two poles separaded by a fix distance, and one other person uses a double-lense angle gauge to precisely find the angle between the two poles. With a complex calculation, geographs are able to find the distance separating the poles and the gauge quite accurately.
II: Measuring weigh
A- Units:
Grain (Gn): one grain is the weigh of one dried grain of Meal tree. It is very invariant, and is handy for using as a standard for scaling.
Cut (Ct): One cut is the standard daily ration of meat for the soldiers of the Service.
Carry (Cr): A carry, firstly defined as the average maximal weigh one person can lift without too much difficulty, was originally a way of expressing one's (in)ability to carry something ("i can't, it weighs more than a carry") rather than an actual measuring unit. The Service defined it by the rule : a carry is a hundred cuts.
Barrel (Br): The barrel is the most common way of storing large amounts of liquid. As a unit, the Br is the volume of liquid stored in a barrel, and also the weigh of this volume considering that it contains water.
1 Br = 25 Cr | 1 Cr =100 Ct | 1 Ct = 250 Gn
B- How to measure weight
Scales are the tool to measure weight. A scale's principle is to compare the object to weigh with standards. Standards are either the Meal tree grains for light objects, or heavier counterweights, depending on what one has to measure. The Chamber of references monitors the manufacturing of counterweights for merchants.
III: Measuring volumes
A- Units:
Volumes are defined from the units of weight of water:
-The cup (cp) is the volume that contains exactly 100 grains.
-The bomb (bb) is the volume of 10 cuts, or 1/10 carry. It is also the name of recipients used to store liquids in homes, that often contain the same volume of one bb.
-The Barrel (Br) is also used to measure volume, considering that a barrel that contains 250 bombs of water weighs 25 Cr (not counting the barrel itself).
1 Br = 250 bb | 1 bb = 25 cp.
B- Measuring objects:
A wide range of containers exist for measuring more or less precisely volumes, from a few hundredths od cp to a barrel.
Small-volume containers are widely used for cooking or anything that involves the measurement of liquids.
For solid material however, the weight is more commonly used.
IV: Measuring time
A- Years:
Time is counted around the Kalendic calendar:
Years are regrouped in millenia: 775.II is the 775th year of the second millenia
The death of Kalendos, according to the Kalendic church, is the reference point of the calendar. It corresponds to the night before the first year of the modern era. Year one, first millenia (1.I) corresponds to the year following the death of Kalendos. All years before that date are simply written as -[years before 1.I]
Other examples :
50.I = 49 years after 1.I
50.II = 1049 years after 1.I
-5 = 5 years before 1.I
There is no year 0
B- Days in a year:
One year contains 315 days.
It is divided in three seasons : starting with the
cold season, then the
fair season and finally, the
harvest season
Each season is divided in three months of 35 days each. The nine months are:
-Nevelii
-Ferelii
-Berelii
-Meoii
-Floii
-Hoeloii
-Hoeesii
-Faeesii
-Ploeeii
To write a date, one must firstly write the year (year.millenia) and after a comma, the day's position in the month before writing the month's name.
As an example:
400.II, 12 Meoii is the date of the 12th day of the fourth month of the 1400th year after the death of Kalendos.
C- Time in the day
One day lasts for 24
hours.
Each hour is divided in 60
minutes, which are also divided in 60
seconds.
Comments
Author's Notes
Please, read this document thoroughly. It is of indispensable help for anyone who wants to understand the unit system in Boomal's human society. Don't hesitate to refer to his document whenever needed, you will find the equivalents in our world i, the notes at the bottom of the document.