Basil Ringrose

Basil Ringrose (about 1653) was an English buccaneer, navigator, geographer and author.

Early life

Ringrose was christened at St. Martin in the Field 1653.

First voyage

Ringrose crossed the Isthmus of Darien in 1680 with a group of pirates. On this trip he created extensive charts of the islands, soundings, exhaustive nautical instruction and symbols to mark rocks and shallow water. Fluent in Latin and French, he quickly learned Spanish to act as an interpreter.

Captain Bartholomew Sharp, Lionel Wafer John Cox, William Dick and William Dampier were also crew members. Dampier refers to Ringrose as an apprentice to a planter in Jamaica. At the end of the voyage, Ringrose and several crewmates took the maps and charts to Dartmouth to sell.

Second voyage

In October 1683, Ringrose sailed on the Cygnet with Captain Swan, as the Supercargo. Damper writes "He had no mind for this voyage, but was necessitated to engage in it or starve." On the Mexican coast in Santa Pecaque, the crew looted the village. Capt. Swan sent 54 men with laden horses back to the anchorage, Ringrose among them. They were set upon by Spanish soldiers and massacred.

Basil

Basil, Thai basil, or sweet basil, is a common name for the culinary herb Ocimum basilicum (UK /ˈbæzəl/;US /ˈbeɪzəl/) of the family Lamiaceae (mints), sometimes known as Saint Joseph's Wort in some English speaking countries.

Basil is possibly native to India, and has been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. It was thoroughly familiar to the Greek authors Theophrastus and Dioscorides. It is a half-hardy annual plant, best known as a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in Southeast Asian cuisines of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Taiwan. Depending on the species and cultivar, the leaves may taste somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, often sweet smell.

There are many varieties of Ocimum basilicum, as well as several related species or species hybrids also called basil. The type used in Italian food is typically called sweet basil, as opposed to Thai basil (O. basilicum var. thyrsiflora), lemon basil (O. X citriodorum) and holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum), which are used in Asia. While most common varieties of basil are treated as annuals, some are perennial in warm, tropical climates, including holy basil and a cultivar known as 'African Blue'.

Basil (Sesame Park)

Basil the Bear was the main character on the Canadian children's show Sesame Park. He was portrayed by puppeteer Tim Gosley from 1987–1996, and puppeteer Bob Stutt from 1996-2002.

Along with Dodi and Louis, Basil was one of the three original Canadian Muppets, beginning in the period when the program was called "Canadian Sesame Street".

Despite his deep voice, Basil has been shown to be the most childlike of the characters, having difficulty dressing himself, and the most curious. He struggled to learn French from his bilingual friend Louis. Basil starred in the first "Canadian Sesame Street" special, Basil Hears a Noise, though he shared the spotlight with special guest Elmo.

External links

Basil (novel)

Basil (1852) is the second novel written by British author Wilkie Collins, after Antonina.

Plot summary

Basil, son of a father who values the family pedigree and who would not let him marry below his station, falls in love at first sight with a girl he sees on a bus. He follows her and discovers she is Margaret Sherwin, only daughter of a linen draper. He persuades her father to let him marry her secretly. He agrees on the condition, that, as his daughter is only seventeen, they live apart for the first year. At first the secret works, but then the mysterious Mannion, whose emotions cannot be read in his face, returns from abroad. On the last night of the year Basil follows Margaret and Mannion and discovers them in flagrante delicto. Basil attacks Mannion in the street and tries to murder him, but succeeds only in mutilating his face by pushing it into the fresh tarmacadam in the road. Mannion survives, recovers and swears revenge, and it is revealed that Basil's father indirectly caused Mannion's father to be hanged for forgery.