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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 [275r] (563/1291)
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.
BAHREIN,
16 - 2 — 1912.
Since my lest letter we have hfcd the excitement of a flying
viait from the illuatrioua Mr. Porcival Lajidon, Foreign Correspond
dent of the Daily Telagrapi^ atid a friend whose name we did not
succeed in catching. They came on tne last Mail, arriving, as
visitors always do here, just amid the rush and scurry of in
coming and outgoing posts. It was most interesting to get a
chat wltn tne outside world., as - "'It were, though -rock’s previous
aef^Krlnte-oco wi-fe-n Mr L. A ma.kes him discount heavily anything he
may say. However, due discount being made for his habits of
instinctive mendacity, he was a very interesting companion*
He insisted on returning to his boat after dinner; Lock says we
must have proved such interesting people that he was in a hurry
to turn us into copy while still hot 1 The frienf" not having
copy to make, gladly accepted our proffered bed and I was glad
that it had not been made up in vain. You might think it would
be prudent always to have the visitors* bed ready; I used to
hold tnat theory myself till j found one day strata of fish insect?
neatly arranged between the shot ts and blankets. They are said
not to eat either wool or cotton, at any rate not where Nature
provides them with a sufficient diet of book-backs and photo
graph—ironts, but j did not wholly trust tnem. An unexpected
famine might set in or an enterprising epicure might start the
.idea, ot blanket hors d*oeuvres a la Witney or she' t sa.vouries
a la Lancashire as a variation from eternal paste and glue.
So my olankets liV' m oheir tinlinod home with strata^
Naphthaline balls instead.
We are to have next month a vists from Mr "Wood of the For.
Dept, he is making a tour of the Gulf to see how an economical
Government can further starve the Gulf establishments to pay for
tneir new capital. (This wasnft exactly how the official circular
phrased it.) We hope, nowever, that when ho s*<es with his eyes
no Will v alise as bureaucrats at headquarters cannot be expected
to do that there are such things as false economies. I
suppose Lock and ho will be too busy all day talking shop to get
much social pleasure from the meeting. It seems he is a very
nice man, so it will be pleasant having him.
We are living through all sorts of crises with the Sheikh.
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 [275r] (563/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946970.0x000038> [accessed 21 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