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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 [‎438v] (898/1291)

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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IV £i A 01 it 1*
3 - tl - 1913.
V
(of May 13 ana 21)
7 Yesteraay brought a lovely aouble post A wnlci. was tke mor
welcome tnat tnere are various rxmours of tnis ana tnat band
of roboers ana tnere seemea a fair cnance tnat we atoula get
none at all. It ia aplenaia to learn oow well ^apa la
getting on, tnia suocessful result will roo tne next operation
of muon of its areaa ana tne fact tnat tne laaies in tne 'Nome'
are so xina ana so competent will make tne return tnere sometnlng
to loox forwara to ratner man to areaa. We are aslignte.
tnat Dr. H. is so confluence-inspiring, a grufi manner ooes not
repulse one long wfcere tnere ia manifestly a Kindly personality
unaerneatn. He sounas a nice sensible person to rexlect tnat
a cnange ox aiet for a xew nays woula brace ana orignten ?apa
up ana that its benefit from tnis point of view would outweign
any otner aisaavantages. It is only tne really big men wno
realise dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. mucn tne little tnings matter l We nave a very
nappy picture of Papa polishing off pcrriage ana cream ma really
enjoying it; he must get very weary of ’loofan’ sometimes.
From Clonaxea the news was also very cheering ana we were
glaa tne ouilaing operations were not allowed to postpone Father
ana Mother’s little trip indefinitely. Sven tne run aown to
Blarney will oe a pleasant oreax, ana when Nora’s weading is
successfully over, you will oe aole to taxe a longer flight.
I rememoer Blarney well; it must have oeen my very first trip
away from nome, ana we went on from tnere to Killarney. I
remember very vividly the lovely wooas and ms tiny stream flowing
tnrough ana my first signt ox wood anemones ma wiia ilowers,
ana the rooxs cawing overhead, ana our paaaling in me shurna,
and the fun ana excitement of tne public meals ana even some of
the people we met. But what I recall most vividly oi all is
my first ignominious effort to sleep alone. My little room
was at some little aistance aown a long passage am tnoagn I
settlea aown quite bravely, I soon oegan to feel very nomeaicx
ana lonely ana lost ana wnen presently a mouse began to scuttle
about — a tning I haa never neara oeiore t- that was tne limit
ana I cast my oaby dignity to tne winas ana toox refuge with F,
ana M. They must nave taxon me in and let me sleep there,
for I don't remember the episoae oeing repeated.
We are very glaa tnat F. ana m. lixe Mr Paton, Nora Booth's
one, so much; I hope sne will oe very happy.

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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 [‎438v] (898/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946967.0x000054> [accessed 6 July 2026]

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