Indians. The rivers abound in salmon and whitefish, and such furbearing animals as bears, wolves, foxes, martens, otters and beavers are found in large numbers. Little is known of the mineral resources, but iron is abundant. Grand Falls at Hamilton Inlet have been described as one of the best waterpowers in the known world. There is an enormous quantity of pulp wood at the Inlet. Newfoundland claims jurisdiction completely around it and over a much wider strip than is usually marked on the maps. Lumbering is going on at Melville Bay. The largest ocean vessels can go up Hamilton Inlet and unload off the banks. The nearness of the territory to the British market makes it valuable. Labrador is one of the chief centers of the herringfishery. The disputed boundary between Canada and Newfoundland on the eastern coast retards development. There are no hotels in Labrador. The Moravian Brethren, the Royal Mission to Deepsea Fishermen, the large planters and the settlers all extend hospitality to visitors. The days are long in summer, and at night the atmosphere is clear. One can go the whole length of the coast without spending a night at sea. Dr. Grenfell has cruised the coast year after year in sailingboat and steamer, and has never lost a life. He says that the coast is a fascinating and safe field for pleasure cruising.
Labrador Current, The. This is an arctic current which carries a steady stream of icy water southward along the coast of Labrador to near Newfoundland, where its meeting with the warmer Gulf Stream causes the chronic fogs of the Banks. Its influence is plainly felt along the northern New England coast also. The fisheries of the "banks" of Newfoundland and of Labrador depend in two ways upon this current: it brings a 1 'living slime" which is food for the cod and herring; and these fishes only thrive where the temperature is low.
Labuan (Id'boo-dn'), a crown-colony of Britain, since 1906 under the government of the Straits Settlements. Labuan is an island in the Malay Archipelago, close to Borneo. Area 30 square miles; population 8,411. The port and town is Victoria (population 1,500). Coal is the chief product, though among the exports are indiarubber, gutta-percha, sago and wax.
Lab'yrinth, the name of some celebrated buildings of antiquity, consisting of a series of chambers or passages, the Egyptian, Cretan and Samian labyrinths being the most noted. The Egyptian one has 3,000 chambers, and is one of the wonders of the world. The Cretan was supposed to have been built for King Minos to contain the Minotaur, and the only mode of getting out was by means of a linen thread, which gave the clew to the dwelling of the Minotaur. Labyrinths are sometimes called mazes, and
were fashionable in gardening. The best known in modern times is the maze at Hampton Court in England.
Lac, an East-Indian monetary term, the equivalent of 100,000 rupees. A hundred lacs are called a crore, and equal 10,000,000 rupees.
Lac is a colored resinous substance produced by a small bug. It is found in India, Burma, Siam and China. The female insect produces the lac, although some naturalists contend that lac is merely the resinous juice of trees, altered in character by the insect feeding upon it. Stick-lac is the name given to it when it is still attached to the twigs of the tree. After having been removed,placed in tubs of water and trodden by men, it becomes seed-lac and the water, colored red by the dead insects, after evaporation forms the lac dye of commerce. After the seed-lac has been dried and purified, it is spread in very thin sheets and, broken up, becomes the shellac of commerce. It is made into varnish (lacquer), and is used to stiffen the calico frame of silk hats. It is also used in sealing wax and cement, and the Chinese color it and use it in decorating boxes.
Lacedaemon (Ids'e-d&muri), the name used in Homer for Laconia and Sparta, its capital. It gradually dropped out of use, and does not seem to have been revived until several years after Christ. See LACONIA and SPARTA.
Laccadive (Idk'ka-div') Islands, 14 coral islands (nine inhabited) owned by Britain. They lie about 200 miles off the western or Malabar coast of Madras Presidency. Population 10,274, chiefly Mohammedan. The staple product, besides the fiber known as coir, is cocoanuts.
Lace, an ornamental fabric of linen, cotton, silk or any threads looped, woven, plaited, knitted, Knotted or twisted into definite patterns. There are three varieties of lace, two made by hand — needle or point lace and pillow lace — and the third by machinery. Although the machine-made lace cannot approach the hand-made in beauty and delicacy of design and in strength and durability, more effort and ingenuity have been spent upon it than upon any other branch of textile industry. Lace consists of two elements, the pattern, flower or gimp, which forms the heavier and closer-worked portion of the design, and the network or ties which hold these together. In some cases the ground or heavy work is almost entirely wanting, and then the design is held together by tying at those places where the points meet. Frequently the ground consists of a filmy honeycomb, called a rgseau, on which the pattern is sewed, after being separately made; this is known as applique. Other technical names are cordonnet, a stout thread employed to outline a pattern; picot, a small loop worked on the edge of a pattern; and modes, which are ornamental fillings.
