![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 [‎569v] (1160/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1160.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "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 [‎569v] (1160/1291)")
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 [569v] (1160/1291)
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 ,
13 - 5 - 14.
LX.
C 4 ^
Once more post day come round and nothing written. This
week's post turned up on Tues. bringing letters of March 31 and
thereabouts, and the very welcome news that after much delay
our letters of early February had come to hand. Lock has &ust
completed for this post a long despatch to Teheran (12 typed
foolscap pages) about the state of the posts. He has been
collecting complaints and statistics and has made out a very
strong case for some reforms. Whereas in 1873-4 the post used
to reach Kerman from Teheran In 7 or 8 days with relays of horses
etc. It now seldom takes under a month — so entirely has our
Tiew "Constitution" wrecked whatever the country had of efficiency.
If his modest suggsetions are carried out we ought eventually to
get the post up and down to B»A. in about 10 days and so timed as
not habitually Just to miss the outgoing mall from B.A. We should
also have a competent sorter here to issue the arriving letters
At present no one in the postoffice can read English characters.
So the post is acrried bodily round to the nearest European place 0
sorted there roughly, then hawked from one house to another,
everyone helping himself to whatever he fancies J So far there
has never been a suggestion of foul play, but Just think of the
possibilities for an unscrupulous person. And with'Bruggmen 7
about one can no longer trust that every white man Is a gentleman.
This week has been chiefly distinguished by the arrival of
several caravans bringing stuff ordered as long as 7 an 8
months ago. Our chief acquisitions are four strong small deal
tables, a second typewriter of the 4rva4 travelling kind, a set
of tea and coffee cups wine glasses etc. and a certain amount of
needed provisions including oatmeal and the like and Hf 7-lb.
tins of white flour. This win enable me to weather the King's
birthday and its attendant ceremonies with credit, I hope.
Of course the new goods brought as usual as certain amount of
heartbreak. The little typewriter had been packed with no
waterproof paper or cloth round its neat leather case; it had of
course got rained on, or tumbled into a river, and the case Is
all mouldy and permanently spoiled In appearance. Happily not
more than a littF^. damp had penetrated inside, and no real damage was
done. In Its case the machine had been laid perfectly naked,
without even a shred of tissue paper to prevent jarring or a end of
string to prevent the type moving. The poor little keys were allf;
standing up jammed andjtangled. Again happll* there were not serto
usly bent and a little care and patience restored them. A dosen
or more of my cups were smashed to eggshells, again due to careless
packing. This means letters of complaint, claims for the re
placement of the cups, and much delay before they arrive. I am
weary of writing and claiming from the stores. So far all we
have extracted from them is a new hot water bottle for a bad one
sent l w* may get the cups just before we leave.
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 [569v] (1160/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946971.0x000095> [accessed 2 April 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