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 [553v] (1128/1291)
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.
£S'
wit^. t^e fire at one end., tne stove at U'*e otner ana tne two
big~lanps over tne taoie . Wnen one remembers wnat a aesertea
dreary nole it was, tne contrast is very groat#
We nave got t#*e masons aoout tne nouse again. We are just
at tne ena of tne financial year, ana alter neroic economies
Looc nas a little money in nan a union must oe spent ceiore tne
ena of tne montn. or it will lapse, so we are getting sundry
mucn neeaea repairs etc. done. inis quick, ana ingenious
mua-ouilaing is very satisiactory if kept well lookea alter &
game a from time to time, out otnerwise falls into aisreputaole
ruins very rapialy.
Tne alteration irom wnicn we are reaping most oenellt is
one to tne veranaan tnat runs along tne si oe 01 tne no use.
It was cuilt alter tne rest apparently witn tLe sole ooject oi
proveing a coversa way irom one room to tne next ana was maoe
very low witn arcn s joinging to tne nouse in aicn a way as to
clock every secona or tnira 01 tne upper (cl erest orey) winaows
in tne rooms. aco 3 not matter vastly to ti-e dining room
wnicn nas tnree oig winaows at tne otner siae as well ana nas
lots 01 lignt out to tne poor little stuoy it was very latal,
ana we nave always felt tne room to oe very areay ana aark
in spite of its internal cosiness. So Lock naa a brilliant
inspiration, ana we Lave naa two of tne silly little arenas
tnrown into one oig one ana lii tea rignt away above tne upper
winaows. It maces tne greatest ai fi erence alreaay tnougn^
tne scaifolaing is still standing ana tne new arcn is not yet
plasterea. In aaaition to tne extra lignt you get a mil
iree view irom tne lower winaows into tne garaen ana otff to tne
mountains insteaa of always nitting your eyes against a solid
ana aingy veranaan pillar, ana you seem to step straignt out into
tine garaen intsteaa of a peculiarly gloomy cloister.. -rt will
improve tne outsiae appearance of tne no use too I tnink.
t nave got some new pnotograpns, wnicn I nope to oe a ole
to prepare ana sena you soon. My own "apron” idr tne develop
ing tank (wnicn I anasnea in a aemonstration to o.lim 01 ^ow to u-£
it i) nas not yet come from Bombay, ana so t cannot aetelop
myself; I go t Glim to ask nis tame Genaarme pnotograpner to ao
two rolls 10r me ana tnougn ne nsis aome tnem ratner oaaly, t.£
results are surprisingly gooa aria will I nope give you at lasu
some idea of our mountains. For tne present nowever I nave*i t
time to print any copies. It is a long ana wjary joo, and as
you can imagine t also found all sorts oi arrears accumulated
in my department. We are still ootn well occupied in our
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 [553v] (1128/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946973.0x000018> [accessed 21 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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