![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 [‎561v] (1144/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1144.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 [‎561v] (1144/1291)")
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 [561v] (1144/1291)
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.
We have Just had a wire from the Gov. of India in reply
to Lock's query wiether he could he relieved at once without
inconvenience. They say he-eeule "itb would he most inconveni
ent to move Lorimer just at present, we hope if possible that he
will try to stay till October”. Sdince there is no absolute
necessity for us to hurry, though we feel our minds a good fieal
more with all f you than out here, this disposes of our immediafe
Je start. They add, when we hear fxom'W is staying on
yrc^z. /-> wo- shLll send off the young military probationer to act as his
assistant; he is ready to start at once. ,
This is as you can guess very good news, and we shall fine
it very pleasant to be able to take our time for packing
dlBp08lng of our goods and getting the Office fi^illy ship-shape
Won't we be able to keep that young man busy; ana won't he be a
lucky little boy to have such a chance of learning how things
ought to be done 1 It will l^jopbably also leave us free to
get up into the hills for a few weeks for change of air. And
having some reliable person about will be a great reduction of
Lock's ever-present anxieties. And October will allow us
to travel in the very best of weather and perhaps be home with
you all for Christmas, provided they really arrange to relieve
us punctually.
Lock is going on well though he is easily tired and any
controversial sort of worrying work promptly-brings a new
outburst of the mysterious rash all over, which disappears
as mysteriously as ever when he rests a bit. Our colds are
quite gone. The next Joke is that as soon as L. is really
weef we are to be vaccinated. Hot thatt there is an outbreak
of smallpox, but that there is an "inbreak” of new vaccine 2
Smallpox is always more or less endemic in these countries
and when a new consignment of lymph, all nice and fresh arrives /
everybody takes the chance of being done, as the outbpak might
come when there wasn't any handy. It seems cold-blooded
but as the Immunity lasts 7 years it is well worth while
to put up with the 3 or 4 days' dlscomfirt.
He had a large crowd at our At Hom$ yesterday and are more
and mort Impressed with everyone's kindliness and friendliness;
there isn’t a creature here who would not stand by you. An
exceptionally nice lot of people.
H© had nice letters from the Wrights and from Bishop
Stileman (of the C.M.S.); you will be glad to hear that Mr. &
Mrs. Wright are both better and the baby toddling and smiling
again.
Please tell Edwin that the awls and turn-screw turned up
safely as well as his kind letter. The tools give great
satisfaction, and we hope we shall now have pjeace from the
awls which leave their teeth in the wood. It was very good &f
him to take so much trouble. L. was greatly surprised,
as I had not told him Iwas getting them. — they are for a
"CaJf 0 surprise for his n^t birthday !
Much love to all. L. is getting off his delayed
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 [561v] (1144/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946967.0x0000c3> [accessed 14 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