the banner or standard borne before the Roman emperors in the wars. The labarum consisted of a long lance, with a staff-a-top, croffing it at right angles; from which hung a rich streamer, of a purple colour, adorned with precious stones. Till the time of Constantine it had an eagle painted on it; but that emperor, in lieu thereof, added a cross with a cipher expressing the name of Jesus.

This standard the Romans took from the Germans, Dacae, Sarmatæ, Pannonians, &c., whom they had overcome. The name labarum was not known before the time of Constantine; but the standard itself, in the form we have described it, abating the symbols of Christianity, was used by all the preceding emperors. Some derive the word from labor, as if this signified their labours; some from ἀπόδειξις, "reverence, p. 3"; others from λαβέσθαι, "to take;" and others from λαβεῖν, "to take."

LAPAT, John Baptist, a celebrated traveller, of the order of St Dominic, was born at Paris, taught philosophy LABDASSEUM Philosphy at Nancy, and in 1693 went to America in quality of a missionary. At his return to France in 1735, he was sent to the chapter of his order at Bologna to give an account of his mission, and stayed several years in Italy. He died at Paris in 1738.

His principal works are, 1. A new voyage to the American islands, 6 vols 12mo. 2. Travels in Spain and Italy, 8 vols 12mo. 3. A new account of the western parts of Africa, 5 vols 12mo. Father Labat was not in Africa, and therefore was not a witness of what he relates in that work. He also published the Chevalier des Marchais's voyage to Guinea, in 4 vols 12mo.; and An historical account of the western parts of Ethiopia, translated from the Italian of Father Cavazzi, 5 vols 12mo.