![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 [‎593v] (1208/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1208.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 [‎593v] (1208/1291)")
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 [593v] (1208/1291)
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,
yf.
hia 31 - 7-14
Mi LXXI.
This nas been a pretty busy weeK. Ramazan has begun, aid
ag soon as this post goes out today we are going to concentrate
our attention on getting off into camp. This resolution has
meiiat a great^effort to get important letters and despatches
ready for this mail, and to do any ordering etc. of goods which
we may require before our^ultlmate departure. I have Just finfe
Ished typing 7 fc. sheets of Government property and 13 ditto
of private stuff to send off to the Ducats in case it may reach
them before leaving England. The Govt, property had never been
Inventoried before so the Innocent looking 7 sheets represent a X,
lot of real hard work. Happily I had made rough drafts of all
some time ago and so this week I had only to re-cast and put in
shape before typing it all out. I have also written 6 quarto
sheets of type to Mrs. D, with details about the house servants
and furniture which I hope may make it ea sler for them to decide
what they want to bring.
Lock on his side has to indite a letter to the Colonel (D)
and to finish a long and important despatch to Bushire on the
G G ndarmerie and the results of their 9 months' work. If these
things can be done today, we can go off with a clear consclance
on our little tour.
If letters should now fall for some time you must only picture
that we are having a good holiday and are beyond the reach of
post-offices. We shall probably try to send in messengers
but if we get far afield it may not be possible. You would not
think of sending letters a 3 day^march to post !
Our idea is to set out Westward to the mountain range W. of
K rman to the district known as Lalhazar or the "flower garden"
and to range about there from one place to another according as to
the fancy takes us, if possible to ssTtty away 3 or 4 weeks. Lok
wants to see this side of the country and also we may find
something in the dialect or folklore line to amuse our leisure.
They say that it is so cool there that they have fires at night
so we must go well provided with winter Clothing and warm bedding
It will be the greatest sport to be in camp again, but the Initla
fag of dividing up servants making household arrangements, lookin
out the rlghttents etc. is heavy.
lest. aft. brought ns another post still a week late. Thatl
is letters of June 9 -n from Dublin and Mama’s welcome letter
of June 11 from OXFORD. it is simply delightful to picture
them all there. They will begin to realise that they are once
more at home when they gather the scattered family round them by
- egrees. 'e hope they will be able to plan out the Dublin
visit for Sept. It is one of the nicest months in Dublin and
with the wedding well over and Artaxerxes growing a big boy to
match his nice big name, they will find every one at leisure to
enjoy their visit to the full.
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 [593v] (1208/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946969.0x00007b> [accessed 20 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