Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s6.26

c48.s6.26

§ 95. (d) **The Mikir** (87,300). This tribe inhabits the lower portion of the Khāsi range on the north-east and has spread over the plain to the east, up to the Nāgā hills. The traditions it has regarding its former home are vague and valueless, but it probably occupied the low range which goes by its name after leaving the Jaintyā hills. From the language, it is supposed to have some affinity to the Nāgā race, though in habits and appearance it might well be affiliated to the Bōdo. The Mikir call themselves Ārleng, meaning simply Man, an appellation so common amongst forest tribes that it affords no guide to identification. They are subdivided into several large sections which may, but do not, intermarry. Their chief god is benevolent and powerful, but his subordinates, though theoretically less in authority, are more active, and generally work mischief. The sacrifices to them, accordingly, are more frequent. They are conducted by priests who are selected from the elders of the clan, whether men or women. The Mikir are excellent agriculturists in their own line and keen traders in disposing of their crops. They are peculiar amongst their kind in these parts in not congregating in large villages, but in building a few large houses close to their fields. They are great breeders of buffaloes, but, like almost all hill-tribes, Kōl or Mongoloid, they abstain from making use of milk. Until recently they had resisted the temptation to embrace Brāhmanism, but of late a certain number on the southern limits of their tract have begun, it is said, to observe certain restrictions in diet when out of their own village. Physically, the Mikir stand second to the Bōdo and above the rest of the tribes here mentioned. Whatever may be their connection with the Nāgā or other races, they themselves deny any relationship with their neighbours.