He found that the people recognized four kurs, called respectively Ingti, Teràng, [9] Lèkthe, and Timung, under which the smaller groups (also called kur) are ranged thus--
(1) Taro. (1) Hànse. (2) Katar. (2) Tutso. (3) Hènsèk. (3) Bòngrun. (4) Inglèng. (4) Kràmsa.
(1) Be. (1) Tòkbi. (2) Kro. (2) Sèngnar. (3) Ingjar. (3) Ròngphar.
As already mentioned, these kurs are exogamous: an individual belonging to kur Ingti must go outside that kur for his wife; and similarly Teràng, Lèkthe, and Timung cannot marry wives drawn from within the kur. The sub-groups are, of course, as parts of the larger groups, also exogamous; and it is easy to perceive how one informant may count as a principal group-division what another may regard as a sub-division. All the kurs are now socially on an equality, and have no scruples as to eating together or intermarriage; their traditional rank is, however, as given above. Ingti is said to have been in former times the priestly clan (Ass. gohain); Teràng also claims this dignity, but is thought to be of lower rank; but in both cases the office has fallen entirely into desuetude. Lèkthe is said to have been the military clan, while Timung represented the rest of the people.
The Mikirs who settled in the plains of Nowgong and took to plough cultivation are called Dumrali by the Mikirs and Tholua by the Assamese. They are said to have acted as interpreters to the mission which visited the Ahom king at Sibsagar. They also have the same kurs as the other three sections of hill Mikirs.
The children are counted to their father's kur, and cannot marry within it. They may, however, marry their first cousins on the mother's side, and indeed this appears to have been formerly the most usual match. This absence of matriarchal institutions strongly marks off the Mikirs from the Khasis, from whom they have in other respects borrowed much.
The following are common personal names among the Mikirs:--
Sardoka. Karèng. Mòn. Kache. Dili. Kabàn. There. Kamàng. Kàngther. Ka-èt. Tamoi. Ka-jir. Temèn. Katu. Bura. Kare. Pator. Kasàng. Lòng. Kadòm. Mèn. Dimi. Bi. Ingle. Sotera.
It is said that no meaning is attached to these names; that is, they are not given because of any meaning which they may possess. (It is evident that many of them have a meaning: e.g. Bi is a goat, Lòng a stone, Pator is a village official among the Khasis, Bura is Assamese for "an old man," Tamoi is probably the Assamese for the betel-nut (tamol.) Sotera may be corrupted from sangtara, orange.) The prefix Ka- in women's names is manifestly taken from Khasi usage. There are no surnames, but the name of the kur is used to distinguish one individual from another, as Mòn Lèkthe, Mòn Timung.