![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 [‎600v] (1222/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1222.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 [‎600v] (1222/1291)")
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 [600v] (1222/1291)
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.
Gordon will doubtless hare fully understood our not replying
sooner !
I need not say that our first thoughts on the outbreak
of war were of supreme happiness to think that Papa and ^ama
were safely at home out of mischief and difficulty. I
hope our honeymooners wre informed in time to escape from
Switzerland; but at their age a cerataln amount of scramble
and discomfort matter little and they will have enjoyed the
excitement prevailing,the sight of entraining troups etc.
It is a bit hard to lose the honeymoon,
fe owe letters to everyone but hope perhaps in camp to
get level again with our correspondence. Of course we shall
be moving about a good deal, and Lock is taking his photo
graphic toys, with which he has had no time to play of late,
so that we shall not promise to do a lot.
47 $ nave had interesting letters from bert, kiose and Hilda
as well as the usual home ones. ^e are delighted to hear
that Floss’s work is so highly appreciated, and we are amused
at a 11 the encounters she has with those learned In the -^ast.
The Great Sykes, the Oreat Browne and the Great Ross !
Lock has been simply slogging at Bakhtiari. He has foiW-
an excellent man who is full of poetry and can also write.
They have filled three large note books with all sorts of
poems. But of course these have to be gone thro very
carefully before they are even approximately Intelligible to
anyone not vrced In B. politics and history, in Persian
manners and customs and local Geogrt^ihy. Some of them are
really very fine. There is another B. who is a great
hand at tribal history and professes to remember back 60
years. He has all sorts of advehtuFes at his fingers ends
real tales of battle murder and sudden death, most of his dire
ect experience or learnt at first hand. If Lock can collect
a few of the best of these his "grammar'’ should indeed be
fitted out with unusually interesting material. My own
collection of tales and verses grows apace, but It is very tame
beside his. T wonder whether we shall find any treasure
on the road.
The first pep- proof of Part 1 is nearly finished. But
I am sorry to say the Index is only about half done. I have
been delayed by our visitors and by the furniture lists etc*
Now it must wait until we come back from camp, but then I
shall Just sit at it and polish it off, for it must not hold
the book back. It is most interesting and amusing work.
Now I have a lot that must be finished off before the
mall goes, so good bye to you all. Shall try to add a line
later. w© are both splendid and revelling in the idea of
a good holiday.
Much love from both.
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 [600v] (1222/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/mirador/81055/vdc_100179946968.0x00000d> [accessed 19 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