MIKIR, a bill race in the Nowgong district of Assam, at the foot of the Naga Hills. Their clans extend across the Naga Hills from Nowgong into Cachar. According to their own legend, they were driven by the Cachari from what is called Tolaram or Senapatis country, between Nowgeing and Cachar, and sought refuge in Jaintia ; but, not being satisfied with their recep tion, they placed themselves under the rajas of Assam, and have ever since peaceably occupied the hill country in which they arc now settled. The houses vary in size according to the number of families residing under one roof. Some are 30, some 40 feet long, and 20 feet wide, with the grass roof brought down almost to the platform.
The whole building consists of one large room; they keep their grain in baskets in the room, and up to 30 families of men, women, and children all lie down together on their respective mats in their allotted places. Unlike most bill tribes, the Mikir seem devoid of anything approaching to a martial spirit. They are a quiet, industrious race of cultivators, and the only weapons used by them are the spear and dao hand-bill for cutting down jungle. The Mikir take up fresh land every two
or three years, and remove their dwellings to different parts of the hills, cultivating in the jhum or kumari manner.
They are very like the Khasiya race in counten ance, but inferior to them in physique. They will eat of almost any animal food except the cow, which they • affect to reverence ; they have a dislike to milk. Marriages are not contracted till the parties are adult. There is no ceremony, but a feast is given in honour of the event ; also when a child is born. Polygamy is discountenanced, and widows are allowed to re-marry. They worship a being whom they call Hempatim.— Butler ; Latham ; Dalton.
MIL, a sharp lancet-shaped surgical instrument, which is used for blinding a person • it is run red hot into the eyes. The small Lice used by orientals for dyeing their eyelashes with kohl (the dust of black ironstone) is also called mil.— Vambery, Bokhara, p. 233.