The Sun. — 1842-05-20 (London, England)

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 20, 1842.  INDIA. (From the Glasgow Courier.) The tbilowing is iite copy of a letter from the commander of the Satellite steamer on the.lncins, to his brother in Glasgovv:---, " H. C. V. Satellite, Sukhur, March, 1842.  " My dear Brother,—This country is in a very unsettled state. Ten days ago reports came in that 15,000 men were marching on Sukhur to attack it. The Planet steamer was lying in Sukhur at the time, and with her gun-boats was made ready for the fight. Everyindividual was on guard the whole of that night. All the ladies went into the fort for protection, as a bloody affair was anticipated. The night passed off quietly. Next morning it was reported that the Comet steamer had been attacked, and the captain and crew all murdered. My turn came next. It was confidently rumoured, and as implicitly believed, that the Satellite had been boarded at night, the whole of us cut to pieces, and the treasure we were carrying up, to the amount of 60,0001. taken and conveyed to the mountaineers. This report was so current that letters were dispatched to Bombay announcing it; and it is in case the Bombay Times may insert it that I now write to keep yonr mind easy. The cause of the rumour arose from the following circumstances :—On my passage up, about one hundred miles below this place, I sent my steward and a native on shore to procure sheep and other supplies for the ship. They came on board in a terrible fright, and said that they had been attacked, and their money and swords taken from them. I did not know for a short time what to do, as I knew the politicals were' very anxious that we of the steamers should, if possible, avoid collision with the natives. However, it was such a glaring thing that I could not resist going and showing the blackguards that they could not do such things with impunity; so, accordingly, I started for the place where they were, with six European sailors and four native marines, leaving the steamer well armed and manned, as we had such a quantity of treasure ) on boaid. Aboutmidnight we arrived at the place —it was in the midst of a thick jungle—and found about 150 of as rascally-looking cut-throats as you could well conceive, all armed to the teeth with matchlock, svtord, shield, and dagger. When I witnessed such a force, and contrasted  it 'ivith my mere handful, I was satisfied it was all over with me; but a show of fear being next to death, I boldly stepped up, and asked where were the persons who had beaten and robbed my men ? They replied that they did not know. I then asked for their kurdan, or headman; and when he came forward I handed him over to the tars, who immediately disarmed him. I also took other ten prisoners, anfl instructed the niarifles, the moment they saw me attacked, to put a bullet through the head of the kurdan. Thus I made the kurdan to understand, that if they killed me, his life would at least be the forfeit. Off we marched with our eleven prisoners (more prisoners than I had men to guard them), followed by the whole mob, who, as we retreated, appeared to increase in numbers, but they showed no fight until we were near the steamer, when they opened a straggling fire from their matchlocks. Providentially none of our men were hit, although we heard the bullets whistling over our heads. The steamer immediately sent up a rocket and fired a large gun, and in about fifteen minutes more we were all snug on board with our prisoners. I put them in irons, and took them to Sukhur, where they were tried by the authorities, and sent over to the Ameers of Kirpoor, where probably they will lose their hands or noses, as this is the punishment generally inflicted on such characters. Will write next mail, if spared.—Your affectionate brother, " R. C.