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 [566v] (1154/1291)
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.
4
(scJT)
missing Isutsrs ultiiuately wuriiod. up^ xor oi oours© a.i< AiCi* a
time we iiaa not iailsc. to write w^at w.j coula to ^apa a;jo. Marua
and Hilda. In suite oi illness lirock wrote long letters to all
tnree; we long to near tnat tney nia reacn you. Tho' even oi tney
aid not you will uot ..avo douoteu all we ielt anu tnougnt. Is it
not strange tnat we snould also nave naa a long delay in t..e corres
ponding letters iroa you ana tne same i®-r tnat tx.ey were irretriev-
aoly lost ?
V 7 o are only gat he ring now irora tne no me letters now serious and
t aaious/iline as Fatner's was. But as tne nows progresses iavoraoly
iroiu week to week we nope ne is really well ana ieeling like nimseli
oeiore tnis reacnes you. Tne miiuer weatnor ana tne peuceiul
open air of tno tiny out most cosy little garden will we nope coax
oaok ^ia sleep. I wis.. we could so.itt you a xew of our nu*iareas
oi glorious rose-uusnes, 4 ana 6 feet ..ign tney are ana covered
xrou top to ootteia witn t..e cleanest green icliaga ana countless
pink oloasoms giving out an almost overpowering smell — tne inimit
aole oldfaanionea smell ox tx.e olaiasniouea can cage rose. Tne
garden is ablaze witn tnem. We nave oeen sole to nave tea out in
n.e snaae ox oar new tea-place. It is still r a liter glary in tne
aiternoous at tea time, out w'neu tne vixj.es are more fully out in
aaotner week or two it will os pen ecu.
Our luncn party last Sat. went very well. I naa masses of
sweet pea and roses in tne drawing room, cut on tne taola notning
-jfjir/ out eunsnine-yellow acolcnias InMr. Steward’s i.eavy/asn-poto
wnicn make oeautliul unspillaolq flower-cases. In tne centre was
Wot-ers yeTlow ye 1 vet Vnanauaintec . wrtn tne crimson iIowt^s on it.
And to bring out t..e toucn of crimson I used for me first time
tne crimson menu curas sne ..aa sent me. Tne result was really
extremely pleasing, ana I tnink quite origiiifcl. I gare people a
snort 4 -course xuacn, xor I disapprove ox turning luncn into
an 8-course evening dinner, sort ci ousiness tx.al drags on till tea-
time. After luncn we naa co.mee ana ices. Mrs. Brandly .*aa on
a vary wonderful emoroiasreu creation ana really ratner amusing
aara. Jut I tnink ane is a nice woman at neart, tnougn I xina .^r
ratner aixxicult to talk tc.
Fe are naving terricle dissipations tnls week; ‘Ars. 3 . is giving
a tennis at noma at tne Club tomorrow, ana tne Nuwao one of nis ivn »
mense tea-parties on Saturaay. I intend to get vaccin&tea *
on Friday, now tnat my guest is g 4 ne ana before tne lot weatner
oegius, so i«y attendance at tnese functions depends ratler on tne
state oi my arm, cut last time I was none I went to scnool as us
ual so I do not anticipate any real inconvenience. Lock is
not going to oe victimised just yet; tnere is no talk of smallpox
and naving so recently oegun to feel nimselx again, le naturally
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 [566v] (1154/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946971.0x000020> [accessed 30 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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