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 [552v] (1126/1291)
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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KERMAN
LII.
(Please note tnat my last two diaries nave oeen wrongly
numbered as 40 aid 0 41 instead oi 50 and 51 respectively;
it’s tnose wretcned Roman numerals; I never could bear tnem;
It maK.es my x*ai r stand on end to try to tnink now tney ever
added tnem up, let alone long-dividing tnem).
We celeoratea our convalescence yeteruay oy oeing
AT HOME again a ter an interval or 8 or y weeics. I sent
round a circular to say tnat at borne days were resumed, aid
was prepared lor tne wnole community. Happily tney did no
all come, cut we naa aoout 10 or 11 . We Iraa surpassed
ourselves in malting caKes. Two large Cnristmas ones wi tn
aliAond icing aid wnite sugar, 2 large glngeroreaa ones
made witb. treacle aid raisins, 2 doz. mince pies maae witn
tne noarued remains oi my wnite Hour, one immense jam said-
wicn cake oi lour layers, one w^ite, one cnocolate one pink
aid one green, icea all over in green aid wnite (to wcicb
tne co Ok added s^uiggles or vivid magenta^) an untold no.
oi sweets aid ginger oiscuits. Considering bow lew people
(comparatively) came, it was wonasrrul bow tne cakes etc.
went l Tbe always nungry Oorting^!!'’ as Olim calls bim
no aouot aid nis snare. All tnree Gendarmes came am were
very pleasant; Glim even witn nis increasing English growing
as you observe quite lacetious. Young Mr. Ward (ai Irishman
from L irf i9rick ) wno is Mr. Gardner’s successor at tne Bank, seems
a very nice natural laa, well bred ana well mannered. He
tucked innto tne cakes witn unconcealed aelignt, very pleasant
to see; be says tney never baa any in Shiraz ana they were a
great treat. I nave enougn of ne inaestructiole ones to see
me tnrougn next Wednesday too I nope. What a loy it will be
to come oack to civil!satio.i where caKes grow in snops IJ
Tnougn in revenge nome cooks will seem very leeole. I am very
lucky to nave so good a man. I go into tne kitchen several
times i.i tne course oi a special oaking eiiort, so as to see
tnat ne nas raisins etc. really clean, almonds well chopped
ana all tne rest, aid sometimes to see it all mixed, out on the
wnole I nave very little trouble, whereas most oi tne otner
ladies ao a lot oi tneir owa baking tnemselves — pure vice I
oelieve in some cases I
M r . Wrxgnf- stayed ana playea a game oi oilliaras witn Lock
wno was in great form. The room looked very bright aid cosy
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 [552v] (1126/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946972.0x00000d> [accessed 26 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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