![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 [‎576v] (1174/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_1174.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 [‎576v] (1174/1291)")
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 [576v] (1174/1291)
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.
2.
Jaffir Khan as our indispensable Ja'far 2 r. Bradley Birt
betrayed his o^n Ignorance of Persia in giving his servant
the title of Khan. In India it means nothing and is adopted
by every Muhammadan, but here it still retains its ’nobitity'
cp. the BaKhtiari Kba ns. Mirza Nasrullah Khan . And his
applying it to Ja'far has much the same effect of comedy as if
an foreigner in England were to style his butler "Sir James".
It was an interesting book. Though as Pa her v ry truly com
plained the studied impersonalities of it ere Intolerable.
Tfhen it Hornes to : one was very hungry and one ate one’s leg of
mutton with ven more than one's usual appetlt^e — well, one
recommends another pronoun.
fut David Fraser is ripping.
The afternoon siesta gives a chr.nc for resuming reading
again and I have just finished with great pleasure Stanley's
Eastern Church which I remember F ther's pressing on my attention
many years ago, and am now following up Athanasius and Co,
in Gibbon.
In the evenings we are trying a Swedish Poole "The Story of
Gcsta Barling" >y Selma Lagerlof, which iss Glimstedt very
kindly sent us w’ith a nice, little note. It is well-written
and marvellously "ell-transl ted, as f r . one can judge; but
w v find the atmosphere nearly as uncanny and incomprehensible
as the Russian air of Dostoevsky -- ana the heroes all seem
nearly as drunken and incoherent. However, we ‘re only beginning
and things nay clear up. The authoress is very .famous and
w s awarded the Hop el prize last year. I rend her "invisible
Links" In a French trans. recently with gre t de 1 of pleasure.
It was a series of abr.t stories, really v ry good.
Now I must g. t along off to work and hope to add a line befoE
post.
Thurs.
' 4 -
Yo , r letters of April 33 and so forth have safely come. But
cannot fAlT ?e have just hoari that the 'iaylorshave lo.t
onnv rf . e girl of it months or so. Last night vhlie tney
dinner? hlf-no^ulto cnrtnln onufiht oaaly
burnt and will be burled today at 6.-to. 'he only o e.
Lock and I have been seeing about the wee _ive
go early and have it full of white flowers. .ho rou.d give
"hostages to fortune” ?
The Gwddish doctor has developed typhoid, and his nurse-wife
has fever.
We both first rate.
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 [576v] (1174/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946972.0x000071> [accessed 19 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
- Usage terms
- Creative Commons Attribution Licence