VAUD, a canton of Switzerland, is bounded N. by the canton of Neufchatel and by France, from which It is separated by the chain of the Jura Mountains ; E. by the cantons of Freyburg, Bern, and the Valais ; S. by the Lake of Geneva, which separates it from Savoy ; and W. by France and the canton of Geneva. The area is 1180 square miles ; and the population iu 1850 was 199,575, of whom about 7000, or only 1-27th, are Catholics.
The central part of the canton is traversed from east to west by the Jorat, a succession of highlands which connect the Jura with the Alps, and divide the waters that flow northward into the Lake of Neufchatel and the Aar from those which run southward into the Lake of Geneva and the RhOne. The southern part of the canton slopes to the shores of the Lake of Geneva, and is one of the finest regions of Central Europe. The vine is planted in terraces along the slopes of the hills, and its cultivation employs above 20,000 persons. The vineyards yield good white wines. The canton is essentially agricultural. The highlands of the Jura and those of the Alps ou the east towards the borders of Bern, feed considerable herds of cattle. Horned cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and pigs are reared in great num bers. Corn is not produced iu sufficient quantity for the consumption of the population. Fruit-trees are abundant; and the forests cover considerable tracts. There are no manufactures of any importance.
The principal towns of the canton are—LAUSANNE. Vevey, 12 miles E. from Lausanne, in a beautiful situation on the banks of the Lake of Geneva, has a handsome church, a college, a public library, and about 5000 inhabitants, who carry on a considerable trade. To the east of Vevey is the castle of Chillon. Farther east ward, in the valley of the BM/no, are ifigle, a small town at the entrance of the romantic, valley of Ormonts; and Bex, with salt-mines, sulphur-baths, and about 3000 inhabitants. West of Lausanne, along the shore of the Lake of Geneva, is a succession of picturesque small towns--Morges, Rolle, Nyon (population about 2500), Coppet, and, higher up the bill, Aubonne. In the northern part of the canton is
Trerdnn, on the Lake of Neufchatel, with a castle, and about 3000 inhabitants. In the interior of the canton are Abadan, with 2350 inhabitants, and a college; and Payerne, on the river Broye, an affluent of the Lake of Neufchatel, with 2700 inhabitants. Orbe, at the foot of the Jura, on the road from Lausanne to Paris by Besancon, has about 1900 inhabitants. The high valley of the Orbe, with the romantic Lake of Joux, in the Jura Mountains, is a most interesting district in the summer season. Watch-making, cutlery, and iron works are carried on in this remote district. The canton is traversed by the rallwaT from Geneva to Bern, which is now open between Merges and Y verdun, as is also a branch from Merges to Lausanne. Steamers ply on the Lake of Geneva between Geneva and Lausanne and Vevey.
The canton of the Vaud forma an important part of the Swisse Romande, called also Suisse Frangaise, because the common people I speak Romance patois or dialects, and the educated people speak Drench. The Suisse Romande comprises Vaud, Neufchatel, part of Freyburg, the Lower Valais, and Geneva. The people of German Switzerland in common discourse designate the whole by the name of NVilschland. These countries formed part of the ancient kingdom of Burgundy, having been occupied by the Burgundians as early as the 4th century.
The Pays-de-Vaud was conquered about the middle of the 13th century by Peter, count of Savoy, and was annexed to the dominions of that house as a great fief, which was given in appanage to a branch, with the title of barony of Vaud. Iu 1359 the barony reverted to Amadeus VL, count of Savoy, by a cession made by Catherine, the heiress of the barons of Vaud. The country was then parcelled out among a number of feudal lords. The Pays-de-Vaud, as the collective territory was styled, had states or assemblies of the clergy, the nobility, and the deputies of the towns, which used to meet generally at Menden.