![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 [‎276r] (565/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_0565.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 [‎276r] (565/1291)")
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 [276r] (565/1291)
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 .
Ho hf.a latterly been getting more and more under the
of the anti—English people ground, and though aa charming aa ever
in peraonal interviews^ the tone of nis letters - no doubt
dictated to, rather than by ( aim - has boon loaing in courtesy.
A aeries or small matters have been shewing very clearly how the
wind was blowing, but the limit was reached wnen the other day
ho -hstd summarily arrested and thrown into chains a woman who
had claimed our protection. The question both of her original
nationality and that of her present husband vexed and doubtful
and Lock was going into the matter, prior to handing her over
to the Bahrein Government if a Bahreini or taking up her case
at the
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
if she was proved a non-Bahreini. The defendant
in the case is a disreputable Fidawi’ < of Sheikh Hamed's and it mus.f
have bef n witn^ldea of shielding him that the Sheikh was persuaded
to take the matter into his own hands. The woman's husband
came round here one evning to tell of his wife's arrest and a dt
leave to take refuge in the
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
as he did not think his life
was safe. -***/
Shortly after breakfast Lock was in Muharraq; he says h'- nevev
saw the old man so obstinate or determined - the fear of Sheikh
Hamed evidently sits heavy on him - but the irresistible
hydraulic ram did its work and oefore lunch the woman was sent up
to the
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
.
in flu
The ultimate question of the husband's nationality is still
being threshed out, but one amusing incident occurred. With
a good deal of misplaced ingenuity Sheikh H. started a yarn that
this woman was really someone else and that her father, brother
and her real husband were living over in Muharraq. SheiJ(h Isa
wno of course never examines into anything or tries to sift
evidence took this as gospel and despatched the family to Lock
to reclaim this long-lost Irdy. The "father" stated that his
daughter had left him six years ago and he h. d heard nothing or
her since, but knew it ws^ she tnat was at tno Agehcyl Lock
asked now he could profess to recognise after six years this
woman veiled a.bjoluVtrly from head to foot. He was absolutely
obstinate and prepared to swear on his most solemn oath, with his
hand on his hearty he dramatically said he felt it there.
Lock sent him away for the moment and after lunch sent for hi‘ T>t -
again but this time confronted him with raur women all similarly
veiled and asked him to point out his daughter. He tried to blu//
tor a moment or two and then boldly poiiitod — to the wirong one i ^
The "husband" and "brother" were equally daunted by a choice of
women, thdugh they had previously be^ n swearing away that they
knew in oheir hearts etc. etc. My Solomon was greatly dc 5 lighted
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 [276r] (565/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946972.0x00008a> [accessed 18 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