![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 [‎434v] (890/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_0890.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 [‎434v] (890/1291)")
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 [434v] (890/1291)
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.
I
3 *
Four oi thn log-loBs srmc'naire (small onos) havo
boon at last brought back by tho carpontor, not w^ll aon«i but
strng onough for tho prosont. Tho big sofa I taoklod my-
solf aftor much procrastination, driven thoroto by tho fact
that its interior finally collapaod on to tho floor. Wo
got strong canvas braid about 2 inohos wide in tho bazar ana
put tho springs back into thoir places, nailing across strips
of canvas to koop thorn thoro. Tho most tndious proliminary
was extracting a perfect plague of tacks all round the edges
of the sofa. The servants wore very good and after I had
shown them how I wanted it done they were able to no most of
the real hard work. When the cross strips were duly
crossed by lengthwise strips run in and out I took a grat
packing needle and sowed each individual spiral spring "into
its place North S. E. and W. so that it cannot easily escape
again; then we covered the Wole thing neatly with a strong
Pi' ffe of sacking. It took us a good two forenoons, out the
nice trim taut sofa is really worth it. Several of the other
chairs I shall be able to do likewise. w> gather that for a
long time it has been regarded as an appropriate amusement for
guests at the consulate to try after dinner to smash the
furniture by jumping on it and throwing it about. It is hard
to see the humour of it, but apparently the hosts felt it was
unfair to damp the pleasure (i of their guests by putting a
stop to it. All sorts of horse-play such as fairing ripe
peaches at the ladies and destroying their cresses were held
equally amusing. The C.M.S. ladies say they usod to loathe
going out to dine. Why any self-respecting Consul — still
more any self—respecting consul—ess — should have tolerated
such horse-play is more than I can say; but there is the
furniture to bear witness, to it. I need not say that neithe
Lock nor I would allow it for half a second, presumably people
realise this ; fo r we have no trouble. It seems Mr. Stevons
used to be one of the worst offenders; so I took occasion to
say to him, in the hearing of a good many other people, that I
understood we owed to him much of the broken furniture at the
Consulate and that if ho smashed anything under m ,r rogink; I
should take a large knife and go down town and out slits in
his tyres (I'd do i'c f too, like a shot!). It seemed a new
idea to him that anyone could retaliate or that indeed there
was any reason against such playful little jokes. As a matter
or fact motor tyros would be more easily axid quickly replaced
than a large bulky sofa. Other favorite amusements were
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 [434v] (890/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946967.0x0000c0> [accessed 30 June 2026]
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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