David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer was born on 24 December 1876. He entered the Indian Army in 1896. From 1898-1903 he served with the Q.V.O. Corps of Guides, and was seconded with the Khalibar Rifles from 1901-1903. He entered the Indian Political Service in 1903, serving with them until 1924. His posts included H.B.M.S. Vice-Consul for Arabistan (1903-1909); Political Agent, Bahrein (1911-1912); H.M. Consul, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan, and ex-officio Assistant to the Political Resident, Persian Gulf (1912-1914); Assistant Political Agent, Chitral (1915); on field service with the I.E.F.D., Mesopotamia, and Civil Governor Am'ra (1915-1916); H.M. Consul Kerman and Persian Baluchistan (1916-1917); Political Agent, Loralai, Baluchistan (1920), and Political Agent, Gilgit (1920-1924). Lorimer was awarded a Leverhulme Research Fellowship, 1933-1935. He also received an honorary fellowship of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, in 1953.
Lorimer's publications included Syntax of Colloquial Pashtu (1915); Persian Tales (1919); The Phonology of the Bakhtiari, Badakshani, and Madaglashti Dialects of Modern Persian (1922); The Burushaski Language , Volumes I and II (1935), and Volume III (1938); The Dum'ki Language (1939), and The Wakhi Language (1958). He died in 1962.
Emily Overend Lorimer (1881-1949) was a British linguist, political analyst and author, She was a tutor in Germanic Philology at Somerville College Oxford ,1907-10, and editor of 'Basrah Times' 1916-17. She was with her husband, David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer, British resident in Cairo during the First World War and its Arab Revolt. She was an early translator and analyst of Nazi works, including Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf in the 1920s and 1930s. She worked with her husband on Asian studies.
Roland Carter (1924-2018) was a Political Agent in Gilgit 1945; and subsequently a diplomat in Moscow, Helsinki, Kuala Lumpur, Ulan Bator (Ambassador), and Pretoria.
The material consists of two folders. The first contains correspondence, manuscripts and printed material connected to the Lorimers' expedition to the Gilgit-Baltistan region, Pakistan in 1934-1935. The second folder contains correspondence and notes provided by D.L.R. Lorimer in 1946, to aid Roland Carter, political agent in Gilgit and Carter's own notes.
The material was accessioned at two different times. Therefore separate series were created:
This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2018.
The Lorimer-Gilgit Papers were in the possession of Sidney Duly until accession to the Royal Asiatic Society - the correspondence is addressed to him from both David and Emily Lorimer. The Lorimer-Carter Papers were in the possession of Roland Carter before accession to the Royal Asiatic Society.
The Lorimer-Gilgit Papers were sent by Sidney Duly to Richard Pankhurst, Royal Asiatic Society Librarian, in February 1981. The Lorimer-Carter Papers were sent to Miss Nielsen, Royal Asiatic Society, in January 1967.
Within our Library Collections we have several books authored by David Lockhart Robertson and Emily Overend Lorimer. They can be found on our
Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
This series consists of correspondence between the Lorimers and Sidney Duly, manuscripts concerning the Gilgit Expedition; and some printed articles by the Lorimers. There is also a letter from Duly to Richard Pankhurst, RAS LIbrarian, to donate the material to the Royal Asiatic Society.
The series was divided into sub-series thus:
There are three letters from David Lorimer to Sidney Duly and one letter from Emily Lorimer to Sidney Duly. There is a further letter from Duly to Richard Pankhurst, RAS Librarian, to donate the material to the Society
Letter from David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer to Sidney John Duly in which he writes of his journey to Bombay - a comfortable but dull voyage. In Bombay, Lorimer had met one of the [Chōa] Russian refugees with whom he had been previously corresponding. Lorimer describes being taken round the Bombay sights. Lorimer had received a deputation of Hunza men and from that secured a Hunza boy as a servant. Lorimer writes of the people he has secured for his expedition. They arrived at Srinagar on 31st March and within 24 hours were in a Hunza boat on the Jhelum. He writes that they have been variously received and as the "Times correspondent" has collected information from the highest and worst authoritative sources. He writes concerning the political situation. He has met a retired Indian Colonial Service man, Sir Ivo Elliot, who is friendly. Lorimer also describes the Prime Minister.
They are clothing and equipping themselves for the next stage. He has been corresponding with Gilgit with a view to having a man sent down from there. They hope to be in Gilgit by June. Sent from Srinagar. Kashmir, India, Handwritten letter, 3 pieces, 6 sides, dated 13 May 1934.
Letter from Emily Overend Lorimer to Sidney John Duly to thank him for his delightful and entertaining letter which had cheered David in his illness. She asks that he will write again and that Duly will keep his letters from Lorimer as he rarely writes with freedom to anyone. Lorimer had been ill for five weeks with fever but is now recovering. The people are friendly and of goodwill and happy to talk about themselves, so she is hopeful of maximum information in the time available. She writes that they were delighted that Bunny could go with Duly to South Africa and to thank her for the postcard from Liverpool. She also writes that 'Lock' may send his Introductions to the 2 volumes of Bu, Grammar and Texts. Written from Aliabad, Hunza. Typed with handwritten annotations and signature, 2 pieces, 2 sides, dated 4 September 1934.
Letter from David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer to Sidney John Duly in which he reacts to Duly's letter. He then writes that they left Srinagar on 12 June, travelling by water and road. They reached the Burzil Pass on the 15th but found it was still snow covered, so had to climb on foot for most of it. He writes that neither he or Emily usually climb so nothing short of a miracle, perhaps of will, produced this achievement. A few days later, lower down, they were in a heat wave. They reached Gilgit on 1st July and he became sick on the 5th. On 11th they journeyed to Scimitar. He continues to describe the area. Lorimer is sending with the letters a Preface and the Burushaski Grammar.
Lorimer writes on his views on writing something "marvellous". He asks Duly whether he thinks there would be any interest in samples of soil, silt and grain. He would presume not as there is no commercial interest. Lorimer thanks for the monograph on Marbles and comments upon it and responds to other news that Duly had sent. In a postscript he apologises for the quality of the paper. Sent from Gilgit. Handwritten, 5 pieces, 6 sides, dated 8 September 1934.
Letter from David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer to Sidney John Duly in which he apologises for his behaviour concerning oranges but all his time has been taken up with sorting the ARP and "Black-out". He therefore has been unable to touch his own work or photography since the middle of September. He feels the problem is spiritual and that he does not feel at home in a world of Hitlers and Chamberlains. Lorimer is returning Duly's "Latent Defect" and adds his comments on it. Written from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. Handwritten with embossed letterhead, 2 pieces, 3 sides, dated 11 November 1938.
Letter from Sidney John Duly to Richard Pankhurst, RAS Librarian, to send him Lorimer's correspondence and reports. He has not been able to contact Sir Hugh Daw but as he was a Governor of a Province he thinks Pankhurst may be able to trace him through whoever pays his pension. Sent from Worthing, Sussex. Handwritten, 1 side, dated 27 February 1981.
Two typewritten manuscripts:
"(D.L.R. Lorimer: The Burushaski Language) Introduction". Typed manuscript with handwritten annotations of the Introduction describing the Land and its People including introductory comments of the language. On the front page is the annotation "3rd Copy" and signed by Lorimer with date 7/9/34. The final page states "Aliabad, Hunza, 1.9.34, D.L.R. Lorimer". 44 pages.
"Report on Expedition to Gilgit and Hunza, India, by Lt. Col. and Mrs. D.L. R. Lorimer, 1934-1935". Typed manuscript with handwritten annotations of concerning their itinerary and discoveries made on their trip to Gilgit. 24 pages, handwritten date on final page, 7 January 1936.
Five articles written by and about Emily Overend Lorimer and David Lockhart Lorimer; four regarding their expedition to Gilgit; the fifth concerning Hitler's philosophy.
"Speakers of a Language that is, perhaps related to no other: The Burusho of Hunza - a Mountain People of Northern Kashmir". Illustrated article with accompanying photo-articles, "The Crafts and Husbandry of the Burusho: A Mountain People in the "Apex" of India", and "Domestic and Outdoor Life in Hunza: A Peasant Community whose Language is Unique" by Emily Overend Lorimer. Printed in The Illustrated London News, 19 October, 1935. 2 pieces, 3 sides, the fourth side has an article "2-M.P.H. Relics on Salt Flats on which Campbell reached 300 M.P.H."
"Nugae Burushaskicae by D.L.R. Lorimer", reprinted from the Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies (University of London), Vol. VII, Parts 2 and 3, 1936. Pamphlet with soft cover on which is annotated "S.J.D. With best wishes D. Lorimer, 7-1-36".
"The Lorimers Triumph of Research: A Language that is Only Spoken, Garden City Residents' Dangerous Journey". A Review of The Barushaski Language by Lt. Col. D.L.R. Lorimer, found on p.4 of The Welwyn Times for 6 February 1936.
"Burushaski and its Alien Neighbours: Problems in Linguistic Contagion" by Lieut.-Col. D.L.R. Lorimer, C.I.E., read at a meeting of the Philological Society on Friday, 4 December 1936 and reprinted from the Philological Society's Transactions 1937, pp.63-98. Printed pamphlet with soft cover.
"Some Points from Hitler's Philosophy; Views On Britain, Religion, Law and Justice, "Promoting the Victory of the Strong" By E.O. Lorimer, Formerly Tutor in Germanic Philology. Somerville College, Oxford". Newspaper article reprinted from the Welwyn Times of October 27, 1938 (with a few additions). Printed material with handwritten annotations at its head.
The Series contains correspondence and notes by David Lockhart Robinson Lorimer to aid Roland Carter on a tour of the Gilgit region in 1946. There are also some notes that Carter made to try to answer Lorimer's queries and letters from "local notables" in Urdu. There is a further letter from Carter to Miss Nielsen, Royal Asiatic Society, to send the material for its Collections.
The series was divided into sub-series thus:
The Lorimer-Carter Papers were in the possession of Roland Carter before accession to the Royal Asiatic Society.
The Lorimer-Carter Papers were sent to Miss Nielsen, Royal Asiatic Society, in January 1967 by Roland Carter.
This contains 2 letters from David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer, 2 letters to Carter in his role as political agent, a single letter in Urdu responding to Carter's questions, nad Carter's letter of donation to Miss Nielsen, Royal Asiatic Society.
Letter from David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer to Bailey to respond to both Bailey's and Professor Bruce Dickins' letters to supply notes to aid Lt. Carter. Typed letter, one side, dated 21 January 1946. With the letter are a series of notes entitled "Note on the Study of the Languages of the Gilgit Area, N.W. India" which includes the language groups, research already available and possible areas of research. Typed, 13 pages, also dated 21 January 1946.
Letter from David Lockhart Robertson Lorimer to Roland Carter in which he thanks Carter for his letter and ruminates upon the disadvantages of being an amateur in any field of research. He writes concerning Mahbib 'Ali and Shaukat 'Ali and the areas Nagir and Yaghistan. He thanks Carter for his information on recruits in Yasin who claimed they have Khowar as their first language. Lorimer asks that if Carter remains in Gilgit whether he can obtain more information on the Wakhi language and people for his current book and sets some specific details that he would like to know. Typed letter with handwritten annotations, 2 sides, dated 24 May 1946.
Letter to Roland Carter from R.N. B-, Political Agent, Gilgit, to enclose a translation of a letter from Governor Ishkoman in which is information regarding the Wakhis in his ilaqa. With the letter is the translation concerning the habits of the Wakhi. Both typed, 2 pieces, letter dated 3 August 1946. A letter in Urdu concerning the Ishkoman Wakhis is also with this letter. Handwritten, 2 pieces, 4 sides.
Letter to Roland Carter from R.N. B-, Political Agent, Gilgit, in which he writes that he has enclosed a copy of the letter from the Assistant Political Agent, Chitral, with information about the Wakhis in Chitral. This letter is on the reverse side. Typed, 2 sides, letter dated 15 August 1946.
Letter from Roland Carter to Miss Nielsen, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose some notes on language hunting which Col. Lorimer had sent him as a young political officer in Gilgit, and some further notes that Garter had made of a tour in Gupis & Ishkoman. He is donating these to the Royal Asiatic Society. Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 21 January 1967.
Two sets of notes, probably those mentioned in Carter's letter for Miss Neilsen (LOR/2/1/5) - notes from Lorimer concerning language and Carter's notes on his tour of Gupis and Ishkoman.
Notes on Wakhis and other people - notes on culture and habits of Wakhis and other local people, probably those sent by Lorimer to Carter when Political Agent in Gilgit. Handwritten, 3 pieces, 4 sides.
Diary of a tour from Gilgit - daily notes made of a trip leaving Gilgit on 14 April 1947, probably that made by Carter as mentioned in the letter LOR/2/1/5. Entries continue until 29 April 1947, all of which are contained within a notebook. There are several unwritten pages but the final page has notes on Ballade from Mesdemoiselles Eden. The inside cover of the notebook, back and front have been covered in calculations; the cover has become detached from the pages. Soft light brown cover notebook with ruled pages.