1855.] Notes on Northern CacTiar. 605 



they emigrated to their present localities in Assam and N. Cachar, 

 and placed themselves under the Rajahs of Assam, who appointed a 

 chief over the whole clan, granted them lands and exacted revenue. 

 This tribe is, I believe, subdivided much in the same way as the 

 Cacharees, and has two distinct sections, namely, the Hill Meekirs 

 and the Plain Meekirs. The latter reside chiefly out of North 

 Cachar, in the district of Nowgong, on some low lands which go by 

 the name of Meekir Par. These people, though industrious and 

 hard-working, never rise to office like the Hazai, and seem to be 

 devoid of all ambition. The Hill Meekirs are to the Plain Meekirs, 

 much as the Purbuttia is to the Hazai Cacharee. Although placed 

 in exactly similar circumstances to the Hill Cacharee, they display 

 none of his courage, and seem wholly wanting in martial spirit. In 

 consequence of this, they are made the constant prey of the ma- 

 rauding Kutcha and Angami Nagas, who attack their villages, kill, 

 spoil and carry into captivity, no resistance being offered. It is 

 said, that long ago an attempt having been made by the Meekirs to 

 throw off the yoke of Assam, and failing, they were made to foreswear 

 the use of arms, which may be the cause of the cowardice of thepresent 

 generation, who, although they do carry spear and dhao, never make 

 use of them save for the purposes of cultivation and wood-cutting. 



The Meekirs are in many respects very like the Cossiahs, which 

 fact may arise from their having for some time sojourned in Jynteah, 

 and perhaps received some admixture of Cossiah blood. They wear 

 the same kind of dress, which is peculiar and not worn by any of the 

 other tribes in N. Cachar. This consists of two pieces of cotton 

 cloth, about eight feet by one and a half each, dyed with red stripes, 

 and fringed at both ends, sewn together like a bag, apertures being 

 left for the head and arms, and put on in the manner of a shirt. 



A striking resemblance also exists in the cast of countenance, and 

 the growth of hair upon it being confined to the upper lip. But 

 the Meekirs are physically a much inferior race to the Cossiahs, 

 possessing neither such large frames nor such development of muscle. 



Their locality in N. Cachar, is to the west and north inToolaram's 

 country. 



The Meekirs though cowardly are laborious and persevering, and 

 are considered the best subjects in N. Cachar, keeping clear of 



