![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 [‎437v] (896/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_0896.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 [‎437v] (896/1291)")
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 [437v] (896/1291)
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.
b.
(V;
Thu old filo£ which it woula bo risky to dostroy but v hioh £
am not worthy oi a placo on tho now gorios, wo s m
indoxing according to thoir oxieting numbors. Nothing wil
givo you a iy idoa oi tho confusion of tho oxisting arrangom u
Xt had apparr<ntly boon tho dorks' custom to filo any papors
that turnod up on tho filn lying noarost to hand, so that
tho titlo on tho outsido of a filo g^svo no roal cluo as to
what tho oontonts would b< about. A filo Callod
"Rational Dostrucion" (sic) containod papors about tho
protoction oi British subjocts, businosa with tho Bank,
arrangomonts lor tho Escort, tho colobration of King's
Birthday and half a dozon othor hotorogonoous topics
as woll as its ostonaiblo sunjoot oi Rst-dostruction i
And thon tho filos frankly callod "Miscoiianoous" ii——
Most important papors from tho Poroign Offico would bo burioa
undor local gardonors' accounts ana so on and so forth.
Lock has tl^lod hard now for two months or moro and at last
daylight is boginning to appoar; tin filos arn far from
doing porfootly homogonoous yot, but roughly most papors aro
mow in thoir plaoos aiid moro or loss findablo and his patont
systom of numbering is justifying itself brilliantJy.
Who i wo ca i got a carpenter to make b<>tt ;.
for tho rocords than tho existing ones and when you can at
onoo lay your hand on any given numbor, and wo have mado out
typo-writton indoxos and lists tho place will bo something
like. It is dreary and unsuitable work for a Sabbath,
but I thibk it may fairly bo classed as a work of necessity
and mercy. Necessary to one’s own offioiency and m i’ci-
ful to one’s successors. If we ultimately got a competent
clerk who will keep things going in good order, there ought
to be grat comfort. At present Lock lileo all his own p<tp
papers himself as you can't trust Fatty even with a paper-
punch ana Lock is in terror nvry time he goes near a file
lest he will pull it to bits or stuff on extraneous papers
or shuffle it or something l
Wo ooth #eop splendidly lit and are enjoying life.
We hope the nows of Papa will bo good; we are looking very
anxiously ior this post. 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 [437v] (896/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946971.0x0000b3> [accessed 1 April 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