LUNGLEI

also spelled Lungleh, town, south-central Mizoram state, northeastern India. One of the most populous towns in the Mizo Hills, it is located 131 miles (211 km) south of Aizawl. Rice is the principal crop in the agricultural economy. Cottage industries produce handloomed cloth, furniture, agricultural equipment, woven textiles, and bamboo and cane work. The surrounding region consists of rugged, northsouth-aligned hill ranges with an elevation of from 500 feet (150 m) to 900 feet (275 m). The major streams are the Dhaleswari and the Tuivai, both cutting the hill ranges almost at right angles to form steep, narrow valleys. The natural vegetation consists of extensive bamboo jungles. Crops include paddy rice, oilseeds, cotton, peanuts (groundnuts), pumpkins, and corn (maize). Timber, beeswax, rubber, catechu, and gum are also collected. Industries include handloom weaving, blacksmithing, carpentry, cane and bamboo working, and the making of traditional clothing. The Lushai people are the major ethnic group of the region. They live in settlements on the hillsides above the river valleys. Most of the inhabitants are Christians. Pop. (1981) 17,205.