ABSTRACT
The south-west and the north-east monsoons had brought rains to the Tamil coast and the availability of water in abundant supply was only from nature. Medieval Tamil evidences mention heavy rainfall and the unprecedented rains that caused floods. Floods in Kaveri river laid waste a large area of land as found mentioned in inscriptions. Rulers of Tamil country realized the impact of flood-induced damages. European travellers and missionaries in Tamil country observed the annual meteorological events and natural calamities such as occurrence of floods and other extreme weather events. Peasants reclaimed the flooded land and began to cultivate again. Rulers granted exemption from payment of taxes to the flood-hit land of the farmers. European travellers, missionaries and East India Company officials reported the flooding in Tranquebar, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Pondicherry and Madras. The simple reason was that the study of seismology had just begun at that time around the world.
