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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 [268r] (545/1291)
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.
BAHREIN,
18 - 1 - 1912.
So rnsiiy thinga have been happening that it aeema months since
I laat wrote. The crises have been mainly domestic and
V
quite trivial but absoruing for the moment*
Just oofore we went into carp Caitan asked for 5 weoks
leave. We had already oeen debating wgethor it would oe oetter
to get rid of him befcsre the drinking oecame any worse or
whether to hold on as get as much comfort out of him as possible; „
it is true he had only been really dead drunk the once, and for
a while we hoped that the shock of having b.en caught in that
state and the fatherly lecture Lock administered would combine
to pull him together. But of course all pleasure in him
was gone asset w . had no feeling of reliance on him, moreover it
was quite clear from his occasional muzzinesses and frequent
whiffs of whiskey that he had not turned total abstainer; so
when he renewed the question ol leave Lock said he could go —
and stay. He looked a little olank, out acquiesced when
we pointed out that it was pleasanter for all parties that he
should go while we could still part with regret and give him
a "chit” (character, discharge). This decision was Friday
night and his ooat left on Sunday so wo were spared a lingering
farewell l Maybe we weren't well pleased that Yusuf had
had some insight into the wo rk of the pantry 1 But
though his efforts were noble and his goodwill ooundlaas there
wore a. thousand and one things to show and teach him and for a
while my "housekeeping " oecame quite a replity. The big
aprons which Edith had sent just arrived in the nick of time.
The Sunday post Drought us word that Captain Keyes of the
Political, almost exactly a contemporary of Kock's would be pass
ing Oil the up-boat on Monday or Tuesday. It is almost unpre
cedented for it to arrive on the Monday so wo wore not worrying
about it whon it was sighted. It was too late to get up
steam on the launch so wo just sent out the jollyooat and a
note to invite him ashore and to stay the night if possiole.
We had groat scrambling, Yusuf and I to have the guest-room
ready and everything as far as possiole in order. Just
aoout tea-time he arrived (with his basin and oeclothesi) most
heartily thankful to oe on terra firma after a rough passage
from Lingah,
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 [268r] (545/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946972.0x000036> [accessed 6 July 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
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Attribution Licence