![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 [‎597v] (1216/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1216.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 [‎597v] (1216/1291)")
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 [597v] (1216/1291)
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 .
tangi’ol j supplies com.aandeerei ? Besides one does not need to
Know cverraucn of Persia to te aware that even if the result was
a renisalon of taxes for the village, the chances of any money
finding its way into the pocXet fo the particular owner of that
particular chicKen are pretty remote. Also the tax-collectors
collect a perfectly vague anount guided only by wnat they can
squeeze without undue troubel to themselves, and so the villagers
naturally took these receipts as a piece of elaborate cynicism.
In one place where they had oollart *3 two donkey alike this
the tribe to the tune of about 500 or 6 0 souls gathered round
and proceeded to hurl down their loads, egging on the women to
the front. These ana all other proceedings were directed by
Glim's native officers, but when Glimsaw the fuss he and Mr. C.
rode up. He was met by sticks and stones, and without waiting
to ascertain whether thisre was any ground for complaint against
his men, he ordered them to load and was Just about to give
the word to fire on the mixed crowd of men women and children,
when Mr. C. with immense pluck and presence of mind put himself
in front of their rifles and succeeded at some risk to himself
<f>f in calming the excited crowd and the no less excited
Gendarmes. If Glim had been allowed to fire nothing could have
saved the little group of 15 men from instant massacre — and one
must admit that they would have more or less deserved it.
Mr. C has had many and varied adventures in Persia, but he
says he never before felt so near having his throat cut as on
this nd similar occasions with Glim and that no king's ransome
would induce him to travel with hima again.
A little reflection wi.'i show you how helpful this sort of
blundering is to the cause of European order in S. Perisa.
Even if we ultimately c%ase the ridiculous struggle to run
a Gendarmerie under Swedes and institute a levy such as we ^ave
on the Inian frontiers imder British officers, these latter will
not now be able to start with a clean sheet as they could flave
done Iw months ago. Theyw will not enjoy the same prestige
as liropeans have hitherto done, for common sense. Justice,
amd sobriety and they will have laboriously have to regain the
confidence of a population irritated and exasperated and
distrustful. Its a pretty kettle of fish that good Townley
hag oookedn for us.
By now you must be nearly as sick of them as we are, so It is
time to close.
TCe are very fit and well and looking forward to our holiday
in the true schoolboy spirit.
Much love to all.
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 [597v] (1216/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946970.0x0000c2> [accessed 18 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