![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 [‎513v] (1048/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1048.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 [‎513v] (1048/1291)")
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 [513v] (1048/1291)
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.
KERMAN
>
XLII.
' 10 - 12 - 13.
TLir: 1&f: boon av» ry unnvontlul wnr<k for ufi ana tb re
if praxtically .jo thing to wi'iti about^ ro j rhall 1< t you
all down f-any.
W hav< had rom< mori rain and fnow which tually
killfi t'.mia for tho pr. ai nt ar it d atroyc the axrface of
th court. v/< arc just an glad for it ir really v ry poor
fun playing with freezing handr, and atill poorer looking
on. W 1 hope to fsubntitute billiardn for it on our at
hom- daya now. The billiard room ha a bo»-n cl< ared of all
Lock ' a records and x have been able to span to it feme
of th n« w Gov rument Afahari lugs, so that it fie s not *
look quit- co de serted and dreary aa it did. W< handsrai* d
it th other dr.y when. Mr. Raaflaub and feme othiere cam* to
lunch. The: new lamps are also a success and w< s/all now
b cb i< to play on dark winter evenings or after dinner,
so perhaps the 'white elephant 1 will turn out piebald after
all.
Yesterday was tf great vruharrnm day of mourning, and
all the servants and far rashes wanted to g t off at the same-
time. W w re quite glad to have two fire*—worshippers
who could not pretend to have any right to a holiday for
Hassau and Husain.
rnh< invalid is making spl< udid progr< ss. ^e has l ad
several drivi s a.id is to b<* allowed to ride on Saturday
next especially if h promises to take a qui« t pony and
.jot to gallop. He now comes to meals with us, cut as h ha
lots of his own work to do and his own latervi< wr to arrange
vti see littl of Mm otherwise. This is p» rhaps just as
w ll as he if. a rather fatiguing person. H f if rli^tly
df*af, .talks v*ry indistinctly at best, and it if hard to
ray wh< ther his French or English is more difficult to folio
This, does not make conversation any easier. How< v< r h< is
v- ry pl» asant and very po 111^ a.d t»-ry grateful. j don't
think .L' can b« a spj cialiy lovable sort of p-rson for ' v n
af t r all these weeks x cannot raise the smallest spark of
affection for him, and you usually like anyone whom, you are
fussing about. Howv r, it is probabl that the foreign
languages and the lack of common interests make d feet ion
difficult, a.d instead of tei iing.seif_r proachful or
hard-h' art'd,
ail round that
it is probably better to congratulate ourseiv
we have .io t'arrived at heartily disliki.jg
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 [513v] (1048/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946969.0x000047> [accessed 6 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