If the clue is monkS (plural) then I guess it's a four letter word and the "s" is the plural. I have two possibilities here: One is that your "e" may be "a" and the word is LAMAS. This really refers to a higher grade of monk, but is often used to refer to Tibetan monks in general. The only other word that might fit is JANES, but very doubtful as the usual spelling is JAINS and also these people are Indian in origin.