LOZERE, a department of south-eastern France belonging to the central plateau, composed of almost the whole of Gevaudan and of some portions of the old dioceses of Uzes and Alais,- dis tricts all formerly included in the province of Languedoc. Pop.
(1930 101,849. Area, 1,996 sq.m. It is bounded N. by Cantal and Haute-Loire, E. by Ardeche and Gard, S. by Gard and Avey ron and W. by Aveyron and Cantal. The north of this moun tainous department includes the granitic mountains of La Mar geride, reaching 5,098 f t. and wooded on their lower slopes, and the volcanic range of Aubrac (4,826 ft.), both orientated north north-west and south-south-east. South of these the Lot crosses the department on its way from the Cevennes in the south-east. The south-west of the department is occupied by the arid, cal careous Jurassic plateau (3,000 to 3,30o ft.) called the causse de Sauveterre and the causse de Mejan, the two causses being separated by the beautiful Tarn gorge. On the Mediterranean versant there are 76 in. of rain; in the Garonne basin 46 and in that of the Loire only 28. Sheep- and cattle-rearing and cheese making are the chief occupations. Bees are kept, and, among the Cevennes, silkworms. Large quantities of chestnuts are exported from the Cevennes, where they form an important article of diet. In the valley of the Lot wheat and fruit are the chief products; elsewhere rye is the chief cereal, and oats, barley, meslin and potatoes are also grown. There is much terrace cultivation. Silver, lead, copper and antimony are found. Saw-milling, wool spinning, the manufacture of wooden shoes and of woollen goods are carried on. Of mineral springs, those of Bagnols-les-Bains are most frequented. The line of the P.L.M. company from Paris to Nimes traverses the eastern edge of the department, which is also served by the Midi railway with the line from Neussargues to Beziers via Marvejols. The arrondissements are Mende, Florac
and Marvejols ; the cantons number 24, the communes 198. Lozere forms the diocese of Mende and part of the ecclesiastical province of Albi. It falls within the region of the XVI. army corps (Montpellier), the academie (educational division) of Mont pellier and the appeal court of Nimes. Mende (q.v.) is its most important town. There are many dolmens in the department. LUANG-PRABANG, a town of French Indo-China, cap ital of the native Lao state of that name, on the Mekong river. It lies at the foot of the pagoda hill which rises about 200 ft. above the plain on the promontory of land round which the Nam Kan winds to the main river. Pop. 12,000. In 1893 Siam was compelled to renounce her claims to the left bank of the Mekong, including Luang-Prabang and the magnificent highlands of Chieng Kwang. That portion of the state which was on the right bank of the Mekong was not affected by the treaty, except in so far as a portion of it fell within the sixteen miles' zone within which Siam agreed not to keep troops. Trade is in the hands of Chinese or Shan traders; hill rice and other jungle products are imported from the surrounding districts by the Kha or hill people. The exports include rubber, gum benjamin, silk, wax, sticklac, cutch, cardamon, a little ebony, cinnamon, indigo, rhinoceros and deer horns, ivory and fish roe; sawmilling and trade in precious stones are the principal lines of economic activity. Luang-Pra bang is the terminus of navigation on the upper Mekong. The traffic is maintained by steamers and pirogues belonging to the River Boat Company of Cochin China.