The "laud" can mean a few different things - Mediterranean bouzouki-like instrument, found in Spain and its former colonies. Etymologically related to "oud" but tuned differently, fretted and with a flat back. I'd guess Garbutt had one of these:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laúd

Related instruments (tuned in fifths) found in Greece ("laouto") and Turkey ("lavta").