Nice knife, Eric! 
 
This clearly is from Negara with its major melting pot Banjarmasin: The engravings exhibit strong Malay influence and especially the carved hilt and scabbard are typical for short blades from that area. 
 
BTW, "lading cara arab" is most likely just a description (given by a local to an inquisitive colonial officer) rather than a real name utilized within the culture for the piece shown in Schmeltz/AvZ. If anyone insists that this shall refer to a specific type of knife/dagger, I have to admit that I also fail to see a close relationship between the blade shown in Schmeltz/AvZ and Eric's piece; the scabbard construction is very different and the hilt with hardly more than similar overall shape. 
 
While there evidently was contact via trade (and probably exchanges of gifts between rulers), I fail to see any evidence for Moro influences or even origins for this knife. 
 
Regards, 
Kai
		 
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
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