![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 [‎589v] (1200/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1200.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 [‎589v] (1200/1291)")
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 [589v] (1200/1291)
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.
X.
Kerman.
33 .?. 14.
Here ie the great nodding day. I hope you aie all having
our sunshine the' I expect you are happier *. ihtou our teiaperatuiB
.hioh was lei la the shade of the verandah at tea time yesterday.
W© sent down our telegram yesterday ovg. /ith request that they
would despatch it at dawn or sooner today bo as to irjty to as*
time its arrival in Dublin about 7 a.;n. The Unicode docs not
expand itself in amiable sentiments for these occasions end we
felt "Congratulate ycu on your marriage" was a bit xeebie to
v .ice our feelings. So to produce an appearance of greater
cordiality we doubled our stakes and dded — the only ether
approporiate sentiment that the booh seemed to provide —
"Conjoint action is advisable n l This may mjtstlxy Achie
a lit 13 e, but I hr.vs no doubt be will detect the "kind thought"
undent ing it l!
Cjf * (
This week has brought no $ 3 t as yet, so we are a fortnight
hungry, I hope the double supply ’.’ill come before this has tob
be posted, no that wo may acknowledge.
The result of this letter famine is that wo do not know any
details of the great event, neither where nor how it in to take
place nor who are the bridc^naids. llovrov -r, v/o can picture it
Pretty fairly well and are ith you all in thought in the
uproar and excitement. I do hope it won’t over fatigue T’other
or rob hi;., of a night’s sleep — no one’s wedding is worth that i
Yesterday was the great Coronation in
momentous occurrence caused little stir,
official recaptions and all the rest of it
could say much about popular enthusiasm.
Teheran. Here the
There were of course
, but I don’t think you
Small wonder.
L.
and the two Vico Consulu(Ur. F. and the Eawab) drove off
from me about b.SO .va/ did not re-appear till midnight.
They
first sent and paid their respects to the Gov. Gen, then on to
another reception at the Karguzari (the Karguaax is theoretically
the represenatativa of the Persian foreign office, and ail our
dealings.with the Gov, Gen, ought to pass thro' him), then back
to the Gov. Gen. for fireworks and a big dinner.
To
keep mysekf amused in their absence .1 had invited M^ss
Bird up to dinner. She is a real little sportswoman. A
dainty, neat little lady with snow white hair and stooping
shoulders and the manners of a mouse, who has fearlessly
travelled all over ? ersia
alone and taken
JLJ.
sorts of risks
in the pur silt of her work. She i's far the most intelligent
and interesting of the Mission people here, but it is very
rarely that one can get hold of her, she is usually off on some
Pilgrimage or mission. She is always most entertaining, end
knows more about Persia’s women and the inner life of the harem
than probably any white person living. A sordid and terrible
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 [589v] (1200/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946968.0x00000b> [accessed 10 July 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