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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 [348r] (715/1291)
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.
5 .
Thon h>) 8rU.d ho?/ at any timo it was trying to hav>) to sp )ak ovon "
iniormaily in^a. foroign language, and ho?/ at any other timi and on
‘^^■7 °th ! subject ho could nav ) held tho help of the Na?/ab i J.m8)lf
in preparing somothing to ss-iy, exit to—day he had boon deterred
i r/om seeking any aid irorn him, fearing to bring blushes to his
cnook the sight of tho portly
Nawab
An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India.
as cool as a cucumbvn^ und
radiant ?/ith pride and happiness caused a hearty laugh at the
blush idea. Then Lock wont on: of course if you do not f/hoiiy
loiior/ - - _ (and even I ?/ho ought to kno?/ him pretty ?/eJil was sure
n; was going to ask indulgence for hia Persian, if it seemed
rusty after long disuse) you ?/i!i realise that the fault
ana tho misfortune are equally your or/n. This ?/aa so entirely
unoxpec ued • that it quit .) brought down the house. Then Lock told
a tii )m^ai 1 about tne Kaisar—i—H-i-nd and th>> Naf/ab's services rind aii
tho rest in a most amusing litti ) speech which caused great delight
among the Persians. It was really splendid, and his manner was
just perfect. You know how much a good speech gains by just that
touch of nervousness or modesty, or whatever it is, that makes you
lo )! sympathetic and that jeesu; differentiates i l from the smooth
oil y nothings of the professional after-dinner speaker.
Everyine was awfully pleased, especially the
Nawab
An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India.
, who had not
ixpected more than a perfunotofy "that's th ) jug". ?/hen he found
he was not asked to provide the speech. Lock had scarcely begun
to git well afloat 'tii >n in marched the three Mission ladies. Of
course he could have momentarily ignored their coming, but'he chose
uno more difficult s-ind braver part of coming ov )r to shake hands
an'B\doo them seated before resuming. The interruption which
?/oulu nave put many people quite off, made no difference to him
'.nd I did f e>.1 proud of th-■ ?/ay he carried th ) ?/hol ) thing off.
Of course these are purely external trifles, but I do prefer a
husoand who can keep his head and do ebon little things like this
really well. I couldn't bear him to seem ridiculous - even in
small things - as such iota of p >op!o do. He loiaked so nice too
ana /lie .quiet dry ?/ay of b)ing funny makes his tumour twice as
humourous.'-' After the presentation am the applause and the co.i-
graiulaiions to the gratified
Nawab
An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India.
we all adjourned to the tennis
court and some one took a photograph of the whole group. If it
tui'ns ouu well which is uniik..)iy — you must get a copy.
Tnis made a pleasant, though cniiiy, break, and we came
Dack gladly to the warm room with its two blazing fires and
■v eyon ) had mor ) t )a and cakes. Ail trie gontlennn ?/ere bi'icks
a.oout handing round cakes and things and I think rveryone tucked
in to quite a resp mt able extent — though we have now of course
the inevitable twelve baskets full left over.
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 [348r] (715/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946970.0x000059> [accessed 23 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