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 [431v] (884/1291)
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.
vrr.o on psp'T rt any rato sooma a vory cnarming and friondly
nisn. It waa a gmat pity that wo could not ha vo takon ovo
irom thorn on tho spot. Ana a vory short-sight no. policy on
tho part 10 tho Govt, oi Inaia to mako this placo — of all
placos — an oxooption to tho salutary rulo that tho incum—
b-'nt oi a post must hand ovor in porson to hia suooossor on
tho spot. Horo whom tiio placo is so inacoosslblo, it
might of courso ofton moan sorious aoisy i 0 r tho out-going
man, out it is all tho samo most dosirablo. No ond of
Lock's oarly troublos horo woula havo boon obviat'-a, or at
any rato gmatly roducod haa ho fsaa porsonal contact with his
proaocossor.
Curiously onough it turns out that an old pupil of mi ic
in Oxfora, a Miss Warnor of L.M.H. whom I coechoa in Old Nors*.
is a cousin oi Colonol Haig's. jan’t it a small world ?
Ana how impossiblo tc bury ono's "painful ana ohoquorod past"
Colonol Haig has boon sont as First Assistant to
Quotta 1 t wondor how hn will onjoy — with all his blushing
honours thick upon him — acting tho part of F.A. ? But tho
block in tho political is so groat that thoro am most distin-
guisnoa Li°utonant Colon'^ls with all sorts of doc or at ions
holding posts tho oquiv&lont of thoso thoy hold as lads 2 q
y ars ago. I am glad w«^ aian't go to India — as julius
Caosar saia (s la Longfollow); Bottor bo i : .rst in a littlo
Iborian village than socona in Romo I Ono woula not bo too
proud to tako ono's turn at Doing socona but it is morn fun
to havo tho ina >pondonco ana responsibility in places where
history is in tho making than to keep files in another person's
Office.
W) are both very fit
warming up, it couldn't yet
indeed and though the weather is
bo cslloa noticeably hot.
Much lov> to all.
uxsnJ' tfUAjsUJ+<*, «> ^
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 [431v] (884/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946970.0x0000b7> [accessed 26 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
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