Units of Measure

In a science fiction/fantasy book, I love to get lost in the world. Harry Potter's world is rich and intriguing. There is a reward for taking the effort to suspend disbelief. What does this have to do with units of measure? Well, I am writing a book that has a character that has to do some surveying (so, I suppose, he is a surveyor, among other roles). Are the indigenous peoples of some far off alien world going to describe their world in meters and furlongs? I think not. Wouldn't be terribly absorbing if they didn't have their own interesting (and reasonable, at least to them) ways of doing things.

Having a well developed world involves these little details -- what do they worship? how do they eat and what? who rules? what has value to them? and... how to they mark time, measure distances, evaluate weights and volumes. Some of these things may not come up, but for a surveyor who is working with these locals, I think that the unit of measure for distance is sure to come up.

So, how will they tell him a long or short distance? Will short distances be in body lengths or flea jumps or thigh bones? We have the furlong -- the length that a team of oxen should plow a field before given a rest, a "furrow-long". A "chain" in width by a furlong gives an acre -- the amount of land plow-able by an ox team in a day.

So, what will my locals use? Will the basis be farming, as above? I suppose they better be agrarian. I suppose it will depend on what made them need to measure length or by convenience. They have to have a need to measure to create the impetus to create and manage a measurement system.

Also of interest, will these aliens have the same unit of measure between their settlements or will they have their own System International vs. the Queen's? Maybe in my book the unit of measure differences will have sparked warfare and carnage. I mean, haven't you wanted to kill one of those smug bastards who bitches about your use of yards instead of meters? Haven't you? Or is it just me? : )