KURNUL, in Hindustan, a British district in the Presidency of Madras, bounded on the N. by the River Kistnab, on the E. and S. by Cuddapah, and on the W. by Bellary, containing an area of 2643 square miles, with a population of 273,190. Towards the close of the year 1838, while the British were planning the expedition for the restoration of Shah Shujah to the throne of Cabul, information reached them that military preparations upon an extensive scale had been carried on for some time by the Nawaub of Kurnul. An investigation followed, the result of which left no doubt that the Nawaub was one of the originators of a wide-spread Mussulman conspiracy for the subversion of British rule in India; its development merely awaiting a fitting opportunity, which it was anticipated events in the N.W. would afford. Recourse to arms became necessary. No difficulty was experienced in obtaining possession of the capital, but the Nawaub, with several of his followers, withdrew from the place. A force was despatched in pursuit, which, after a sharp encounter, succeeded in securing the person of the Nawaub, as well as several other prisoners. An immense quantity of warlike stores was found in the town. No satisfactory explanation could be given for the accumulation of so vast a quantity of the material of war, or for the systematic disguise and concealment under which it had taken place; and as the obvious conclusion was, that the Nawaub's proceedings were connected with plans for the subversion of the paramount power, it was justly thought that the chief had been guilty of a breach of allegiance, and his territory was annexed to the British dominions. The Nawaub was shortly after assassinated by one of his Mohammedan followers.