![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 [‎303r] (619/1291)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000323.0x0002bc/Mss Eur D922_1_0619.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 [‎303r] (619/1291)")
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 [303r] (619/1291)
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.
I forgei. how far I had got laat mail in the tale or our
eventful existence. I think the Sphinx had arrived.
Well we had two or three pleaaant days while she was in.
Comraander Todd came to dinner, and to tennis and to tea A and
proved very interesting and jolly, so that we are looking forward
to the return oi the Sphinx and hope he will stay a few days on
shore with us and encourage us to organise a few picnics and
things and that we shall see some of the oth^r officers. As it
was they had to hurry off to the pearl banks and left us in the
sa^o state/of wireless uncertainty as to the date of the P.R.’s
arrival. All the time they were in Commander T. sent us
about 5 lbs. of ice ashore every day and maybe we didn't revel
in iced drinks and jellies and galantines and all sorts of
cold dishes. Whether a prolonged course of it would have been
wholesome or not j can't say i Any how for a few days it was
a great treat and Lock was much amused at the ruthless way I
plundered my storeroom to get nice fruit to make jellies and
sponges and faols I As a general rule I guard with a jealous
eye - and padlock - the tins of fruit that come so far and take
so long to replace; but I can rise to an occasion.
As day after day went by without the P.R. we kept improv—
things for his reception. I had lime to re-cover a couple
of cushions and coseys and make two new tablecloths for the
drawing-room tables. Lock laughed very much at my preparations
but himself got reed screens (chicks) put up outside the East
facing windows of the room and screened a part of the verandah
from the riding sun so that the P.R. could sleep outside in more
comfort etc. etc. crowning ids labours by extending the two
electric bells to his room so that he can ring to the servants'
quarters and to tae office. Still we were pretty sick of
it s- fi - waiting for him; poor Lock had shaved every day for a month -
when alone "we" only shave every second day, we really don't
get very scratchy till near the end of the 48 hours - at last he
went on strike and declared the P.R. might be (words I
never use). The result of this lapse from grace was that the
"Investigator" was sighted about 10 a.m. an (on Thursday last).
The poor launch had been "banking fires" - just as Lock had
7
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 [303r] (619/1291), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur D922/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100179946967.0x00008b> [accessed 5 July 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