An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [557v] (1136/1291)
The record is made up of 2 files (630 folios). It was created in 1898-1914. It was written in English and Persian. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
KERMAN,
25 - 3 - 14 .
LITI * ^
. JuaA,
The post la evidently goi*ig to oe late again this weeK; this
is annoying as it means we are always a w^qk longer in acic-
nowle-iging your letters than we properly ought to oe . We got
a wire from Mother tr.e ocner day w VerDena rt rnearxing aa per agree
ment w We are all well; please say how you are*. This looks I
am airaid aa ii our letters naa oeen irregular, ait perhaps it
only meant that, you were ail oeginning to near about Lock's
illness, and oi course ray letters about that time were very scant
I only hope tnat you weren't really anxious or distressed and that
you wirsd really partly xor run to see how quick the re-assuring
answer would ccruo oack. We sent it on at once "VeroAngetorix"
We are jotn quite well and nave written regularly. Wo directed
to Achie lor his registered address saves us one word; at Lock
made merry over the hoae-maas code word Vercingetorix vc*icn ne
says on account oi its langtn will certainly be oountea as two !
SA it might ..ave been oetter to arrange to taxe Oiie oi the reaay-
maae C o ae wo ra. s.
i nave oeen having an amusing ana poeasant noliday. Our weath
ner nas oeen extraordinary; one day roasting summer, the next
hail acid s;iow and oitter winds, and I caugnt a oit oi a cola.
So as soon as I naa got on last weeks letters to the post, I went
niy nousenola rounds gave out supplies etc, lor two days, ordered
myasli a nice not oatn ana not o^ottle ana retired to tea a
2.30 p.m. to tne great amusement ox tna estaolishment, #x.o seemed
to tnink it was ratx.er cola-olooaea to ma*< e up your mind to be ill 1
Ne^t day lock insisted on Or. Festla^e's coming, a^a we had a love
ly long cnat. She stayed oucking lor aoout two hours as it was
aii oxf aay at the hospital. Oi course ooi ore Are cane tee worst
was over ana sxje could only commend my prudence. I stayed in
oea ail Friday and since then u^ougn I am quits isll rigx*t again
T have oeen taking ureaxiast in oea with Lock ana also retiring
wit., him to oea oexore dinner. It is a very ^olly spree, ana does
not really give tne servants muen extra trouble. You may think
it sounds rather demoralised ior ootn oi us; out just now tne
mornings and evenings are so extremely cnilly that T think the
precaution is quite wise. As we nave oreaklaat at 7.30 ana
Look 1m acie to os at work os aoout 8.30 it isn't really sc lazy
as it seems.
Hs is getti.ig on vsry ^itfely aid having go or long walks every
oernoon. Re isn't in too great a nurry to throw oil all invalid
r C*1
About this item
- Content
This file consists of two separate physical files as follows:
1) An account of a journey in Kashmir in 1898-99 written by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer of the Indian Army. His account is entitled 'Three Months of Privilege Leave'. It contains his observations on the languages, peoples, transport, flora and fauna, trade and climate of the region. There are occasional edits and corrections to the original text marked in red pen. The Persian language material in the file is a proverb written on folio 194.
In addition to this travel diary, the following is enclosed: an essay by Lorimer entitled 'Modern Education' dated 9 February 1895 (folios 1-24); two copies of a pamphlet that was published 'for private circulation' in memory of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, following his death on 8 February 1914 (folios 255-262); and another essay by Lorimer entitled 'Our Indian N.W. Frontier - a study in a bye-gone Civilisation. A forgotten Chapter of Frontier History' (folios 221-253).
2) Copies of letters that were sent from Emily Overend Lorimer to her parents, Thomas George Overend and Hannah Kingsbury. The letters describe the lives of Emily and her husband, David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer (referred to as 'Lock' in the letters), while living in Bahrain from October 1911 until November 1912 (folios 263-310) and in Kerman from January 1913 until November 1914 (folios 313-634). David served as Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in Bahrain 1911-12 and as HM Consul, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan, 1913-14.
The letters discuss a range of topics including Lorimer's observations of local customs, food, climate, scenery and festivals; the couple's domestic life and arrangements (especially their servants, who are often discussed in racialised, insulting language); and her interactions with other non-local residents. Also discussed are Lorimer's reading habits, her and her husband's health, family news and, occasionally, world events and political developments.
On folios 322-324, the file contains a description of a walk around Kerman in March 1914 that is accompanied by a sequence of six small black and white photographs of various points in the journey (folios 315-321).
In addition to these letters, the file also contains a number obituaries and letters of condolence written upon the death of David's brother, John Gordon Lorimer, on 8 February 1914 (folios 299-302, 415-416 and 543-544).
On folio 417, the file contains an obituary of David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer published in an unknown newspaper following his death on 26 February 1962.
- Extent and format
- 2 files (630 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the front cover of volume one (ff 1-262) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 263-634); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English and Persian in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman [557v] (1136/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946970.0x0000b5> [accessed 18 January 2025]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur D922/1
- Title
- An Account of a Journey in Kashmir by David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer and Letters from Emily Overend Lorimer to her Parents sent from Bahrain and Kerman
- Pages
- 263r:298v, 303r:306v, 309r:391v, 393r:411v, 418r:542v, 545r:634v
- Author
- Lorimer, Emily Martha
- Copyright
- ©Munro Family
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Attribution Licence