  The composition and physical properties of several local clouds, including
the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) in which the Sun is embedded, are derived
from absorption features in the UV spectrum of the star epsilon CMa.
  We derive temperatures and densities for three components by combining our
interpretations of the ionization balance of magnesium and the relative
population of C II in an excited fine-structure level. We find that for the LIC
n(e) = 0.12 +/-0.05 cm-3 and T = 7000 +/-1200 K.
  We derive the ionization fractions of hydrogen and discuss the ionizing
processes. In particular the hydrogen and helium ionizations in the LIC are
compatible with photoionization by the local EUV radiation fields from the hot
stars and the cloud interface with the hot gas.
  We confirm the detection of high ionization species : Si III is detected in
all clouds and C IV in two of them, including the LIC, suggesting the presence
of ionized interfaces around the local clouds.
