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 [‎584v] (1190/1291)

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adjourned to the hlg drawing room which was being prepared for the
service. It was marvellous iihat a change they had already worked
In it.^ kT with carpets borrowed from everywhere, muslin curtains
procured from the baxar, and all the flowers etc, that the town
had been able to supply they had turned it into a most seemly
assembly room. In the middle of a great arch that Joined or
divided the two halves of the big room, they had arranged the
place for the bier, over which a large Swedish flag was draped.
In spite of the lateness of the season enough flo wers were forth
coming to cover the whole and to line the arch with green. When
we could no longer pretend to find more to do there we then went
away and I helped Madame R, to find and put on a black dress she haa
and then followed a ^alnfiil half hour of waiting till the ceremony
should begin. I had left home with the intention of riding back
again soon to tell Lock what arrangements were being made and then
to change my own dress and help him into his; but finding myself real
ly of use I had to abandon him to the his dwn devices and the servant*
care. Fortunately, he had worn uniform so recently that Burzu was
able to get it ready without any hitch.
Everyone mistered at the service which was conducted of course
by Messrs Rice and Boyland. Madame Ronne kept up marvellously
the whole time, supported by Mrs. T. who afterwards carried her
straight off to the Bank House again.
we had great fears that it would be impossible for the poor woma
to travel at this time of year, but it seems that the Gendarmes are
arranging for a carriage to convey her to Teheran, and of course if
r it is possible, it will be vastly better for her to get back as soon
W as pooolble^to her own people. At first we were most unhappy at
Mrs. T’s taking her, for we thought that a long strain of the kind
would be the worst thing for her Just now, but of course if it is rea
lly only fr a week or so, and if that week will be filled with pack
ing etc. it is not so bad. And anyway Mrs. T. was not to be
dissuaded. We Implored her to come back to us and bring Madame R.
too; but she would naturally be reluctant to go so far from her
own compatriots (the Bank House is not five minutes’ walk away),
and for packing etc. the present arrangement is clearly best.
How suddenly, after years and years of immunity, one is brought
up face to face with the realities of life. This is the third
funeral within 6 months the second within one month. For twelve
preceding years there had been no European death in Kerman.
Glim got back safely from B.A. and is looking fairly well. Thy
had wonderfully mild weather.
There is little casual news, or perhaps it merely seems more
casual than usual. Lock is splendidly well, I ditto. I am getting
some glorious tales out of the Mirza collected by him from all sorts
of old women of his acquaintance. Lock has got hold of a less ducal
Bakhtlarl, but a man of far less intelligence and an almost deafening
voice. Mr. F. continues to prove a very nice fellow and most
considerate in the house.
Post not yet in this week.