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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 [‎439v] (900/1291)

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. .

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we are very sorry to uo&i' a ouay time O-oraon ana
Nesta are naving. It ia no aouot tne penalty oi greatness
never xor a moment to nave any privacy; out it ia a penalty
tkat far outweignsa any posaiole aavantages I I only nope
Look will escape it !J We love our nice quiet life a_aeux
ana snoula not at all relis*. a lot 01 compulsory entertaining
An n, a perpetual tribe oi visitors in tne nouae.
You will oe amusea to Know ti^at Lock apparently nas again
unwittingly acl.ie^eci lame oy nis Trane peport oi 1 'll—12from
Banrein. There were many generalities about tne place wnich
olIcl not appear ever oeiore to nave oeen summen up in t**e yearly
report ana he thought it might be useful to recorn tnem lor
once; out when he han the thing i ini shea ^ ne re. ie^tea ne
mignt very HKely be snuboea icr naving exceeaea the mere list
of quantities ana percentages of which tne yypical report is
most often mane up. Apart from the Scotsman’s quotations
oi wnich you tola us, he receiveu yetsteraay an official letter
from Sir E. rtrey's secretary stating that Sir ^awara Grey
haa instructea him to egress to lock his thaaKs for the Traoe
report oi tne Bahrein Islanas for 1911-12. On what principle
such encouraging aocuments are aistributea we nave no iaea;
they prooaoly mean very little, out they are in any case mor^
cheering tnan a snub. I chafi lock ana say that if he can’t
repress tne impulse to be"tnougntiul ana instructive” he will
os getting autograph letters irom tne King.
>s a xiiatter oi fact a great maiiy people treat tneir various
reports very casually sma put little in to tnem that coula pos
sibly be of use to anyone; wnereas took aoes taxe great trouole
to collect ana collate any facts tnat may oe helpiul to intenaing
merchants or others. By tne way if you care to see the report
in question, F. ana M. can get a copy tnrough any booKseller
ana post it on to ?apa ana Mama, price 3^a. It is of course
mainly technical aid very aull. Its title is t No. 6052
Annual Series. Diplomatic ana Consular Feports. PERSIAN Cr TT LF
report for the year 1911-12 on the traae of the Banrein ralanas
There is littel new to report.
Lock’s arms-traaers

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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
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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 [‎439v] (900/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946973.0x00004d> [accessed 19 June 2026]

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