Page 128 - The Pirate Coast (By Sir Charles Belgrave)

he was to be given a horse and a marc to take as gifts to the
Governor-General. He was not allowed to see them. The
Pasha’s servants brought for him to sec the ‘horse furniture’ which
was in a ‘tattered condition of ragged appearance’. Sadlier had
been asked to give an opinion about the gifts, and he said what
he thought of them. The Pasha was very annoyed that Sadlier
considered them unsuitable, and he cancelled the gift of the horses,
and threatened to return the sword. It was soon after this that
Sadlier finally left by sea, for he had been unable to obtain an
escort to return with him across the desert to Basra, which he had
planned to do.
Very little credit has ever been given to Sadlier for the journey
which he made, under excessively difficult conditions. He was
the first Englishman to cross Arabia from east to west, and he did
so at a time when a journey by a European traveller was fraught
with danger. For his feat, he received no recognition, though
later travellers, who did the same journey with far better equip­
ment, gained much praise and publicity.

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