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 [578v] (1178/1291)
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
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2.
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utterly crushed. For surely no Infant ever was that had cost
so dear, and no parents v?ere ever more entirely wrapped up in an
only child. But we found them braver than I can tell you, and
more controlled than we were. They gave us tea and talked of
all kinds of things and even laughed and joked. Then Lock carrie
off Mr. T. for a ride and I styed with Mrs. T. ^he told me all
the details. The lamp had been left lighting beside the
mother's bed, a puff of wind had come and the mosquito curtains
had caught fire, from them it spread to the curtains of tne cot.
They heard the child's cries almost ato once and she was lifted
out not very seriously burned. They put her immediately Tnto a
hot hath^and gave her brandy and sent for the doctors, and had
every hone that she would pull thro' and not even be disfigured.
The whole night the mother held her in her arms; she did not suffe
badly for they gave her little dorses of opium. But it as all
no good, and at about 8 a.m. she Just gave a little sigh and it wa
over. ^ never saw two people face their loss so splendidly.
Mrs.*Taylor brought me round and showed me the room and the marks
of the flames on the wall showed me the little frocks she had
been embroidering, and the littel house in the garden they had
been making for her to play in I was impressed not only by the
pluck but by the wisdom of it, facing it all in every detail from
the first tht there might be mo dark corners in her grief, no
rooms she dare not go into, no corner of the garden she would not
visit. If you can believe it we came away hel ed and strengthene
and cheered.
Since then they have been up here more than once, on Thurs.
Mrs. Taylor is coming up as soon as her husoand has lext for his
work so spend a quiet day; and he will come up for a game o
tennis and fetch her home. ^e don't want her to have to face the
lonely days in the house when he is out Just yet. A3 soon as
they have re-adjusted themselves a little they are coming
with us for a fortnight or so to make a break between the old Hie
and the new.
Excuse my tefcling it all to you, but nothing else looms so
large in our minds.
On Saturday Mr. Fowle arrived in time for lunch, hale and
fit and sunburned. He is very attractive, frank, natural
young fellow — pleasantly ugly. Though not robust-looking
he seems wiry, and has ceratinly weathered the hardships of the
road at this season without turning a hair; he only mentions
that it was 'a bit hot'. He is delighted with Kerman and as
keen as must rd on the prospect of political ? ork. He has
everything to learn, typing and cyphering and filing and all t
rest of it, even of the mere routine. But he brings lots of
zest and an absolute absence of side to it. After these good
remarks I scarcely need to mention that he is an Irishman. his
Mother and sister live near Cork (I think his father as mg.
but I don't know what his professions was). It is not necessary
to mention that his politics etc. re 'white' I wnna_rfa
He plays a good game of tenuis and not a bad game of billiards
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 [578v] (1178/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946970.0x0000c3> [accessed 17 February 2025]
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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