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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 [‎563v] (1148/1291)

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. .

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KERMAN
6 - 5 - 1914 .
LIX.
J-ULA/ Off*-
V/all ii aayori& iiaci. prop.'.e^lQd. ten aays ago tnat we s^.ouIol
^ aV e turnea into t.-e cool green of our garaen from tne auety dusKy
roaa down wnicn in clouded moonlignt an eerie train of canels
moved away, full of regrets tnat one of tne nappieet ep.reoaea ot
recent lixe was over — we snoula xtave oeen very sceptical,
junt anewa tnat one cannot oe too open-minded aoout people.
Our guest proved one oi tne pleasantest xolK we nave ever met,
ana one oi tne most stimulating. We enjoyed all ni' stay espec
ially tne last six or seven days wnen we naa got to know nim a
little cetter, ana wnen tne Legation manner naa worn a little
tniu. Lock found Lira quite tne sanest person ne nas struck on
tne subject of Persian politics. TLey naa a couple oi gcoa long
walks tete a tete in amicn tney tnrasnea out many tnings, ana found
tnat tney were nsartil^r agreea on most points. Not least on
tnis tnat t~e Minister in Teneran, wnoever ne raay be, is neitner
seekiiig t..e good or Persia nor tne good of Britain, art solely and
only Lis own aavancement anr promotion. His policy t.*orexOre is
not alctatea oy racts or principles art 09 a consideration of
W nat will give least trouols ara oe irtoat welcome at no me. Blue
cooks and aespatenes are cooked to suit tne taste of t~e F.O.
ana everytmng aisagreo&ole as far as possible suppressed, so
tnut if possible aifriculties ana ugly occurences may oe staved
Oil
116 3 S
£* - — — — — — —- — * - -
practical ninaea person ana extremely capacle, in contrast to ou r
earlier friend misnamed "Braipa". TLis meant tLat Le was travelling
WitL competent aria experiencea servants, witL adequate a^ra gementa
ana gear ana tnat ..s gave us tne very minimum oi trouble in
getting transport etc. In tact -a was practically able to see to
all tnat 10r nimseif. But tLe real pleasure 01 Lis company was
nis intense ana uuisig..ea entnusiasm xor every sort 01 literature.
Ee Las Lad a most extra-orainary upbringing ana liie. His ia ne '
aiea wnen ne was oorn or soon alter, and ..is motner w..o ri.ust oe
until our nero Las oeen removea to anotner spLere 01 'useiul
>* TLis is wnat we uaa long suspected, oixt one fights
n.e conviction in nope. Sir C. K. is also a retresningly
(or nave oeeuj
a woman 01 quite exceptional ability a.ia aruistic
taste brcugLt nix;, up 0.1 tne continent mainly in tne S u uu. 01
France. In tne intervals 01 Fra.ice Le seems to nave been at.
Fton. But tx.e predominating influence in nis early liie was
Frencn literatuie . Ail sorts 01 interesting literary people
were frequenters of nis motner's nouse, ana Sir C. is simply

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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
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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 [‎563v] (1148/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946971.0x0000c7> [accessed 1 July 2026]

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