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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 [‎473v] (968/1291)

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. .

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XXIX
KERMAN
9-9
1913
+£/rig.
Ho re ro sro safoly tsck a gala £• a most roluota t to do so 1
Wo ota a aploudid, roattul Holiday, cut too tot dcyo moraiy woottod
our appetite. Howovor, wo fro p- rfootly lit f gai>i a-d Lock, 6a be
fo£i\>d f iads so mucL r.rroars toot bo r? s quite rigot i * <iOt IcCi ig
a,xy more.
Wo loft our campi'g grou nd about 8 o'c ot Saturday tod rode
Home oy a difl «u'o tt route, skirti ig tbo Dig mou itaia 'oobi .d to • Coueula to
q.i too North, bavi >g gone out round too Soutbern end. It was a very
pleasant ride up iO a High wa tor shod snd down a rigged gorge i «to our
own plain again. Wo got i noro soon after oloveu, Tbe first thing
wo saw on learing too Consulato gate was the miuutt Mirza AU, astride
o .i a large mul» ••, tbo youngster gri rnod with do ligh t a a hailod us wi th
1 saiam a la ikuia 1 • In tbo gateway all the guards and
vigorous
draw i up looking very cheery a .d plea*sod to s us, so
servants were
w<. had quite a friendly welcome, homt . At the garden gateway wore
the Nawao and Patty also looking very prosperous.
We fount the bouse and verandah all freshly swept. Our Ispa
han is had toiled while w<. w re away a id gia. l t. r nous <. e’ 0eoug.
ol >£ ii g. It was v ry pleasa it to b greeted by the sight of
spotless rooms a d soi ling brass aud silver. They pic yod wond'>i fu i. ty
little havoc c .id except for half a dozen books upside down, .v n'ytbi ig
wa s 1 i its place; there were fresh, f- id very nicely arm g'd f Lowei s
on all the tables a id after the pic icing of camp it was conversely
very pleasant to be in civilis d surroundings again.
Toe two now men art- doing excellently. They are most sup rior
fellows. When I was be idi g over the silver from my ty^sd lists,
Mirza Hussain surprised me by writ! ig it all down. He has
groat dool ot oxpori* iC>'« o i iiOuri s< rvico uu.l ia
iatolligont. It ras rmusi ig to 3 ( t? tr.o airs U* young or orotn r
Mirzs Hc‘&3a,*i g c vo udgiig /iirn t id whispori ig: l^fn l 1 s tot
aharpo i ig k ives, you know, and that's a thi ig tor burnt bread (toast)
etc. H. in a very a ttraotivt-looking aright-faced young fellow,
a id has really quite t i idea of waiting. They do iOt seem, cS
feared they might, to resent a Lady in the bous out r a the i to
b i ng shown thi igs.
But the rea l delight is t; e youngster. I saw him sltti ig
the step of their room pLayi ig with two bricks, a d I i vited him
comt'i wi me and 'help'. He locked much pleased, out replied,
Casa bianco—like, ou*. r must • * t go away from her< unless I Lock thn- doer.
nO t
•.k • <: X - ‘lic id* cl «. ud
so. e
I
o
joy
o i
to

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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
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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 [‎473v] (968/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946969.0x00004e> [accessed 22 June 2026]

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