A Rigorous Researcher or Investigator looks up background information related to the book and selects 3-5 topics from the reading (i.e. language, culture, foods, plants, etc.) and researches them in depth to further support understanding of the book. Although there were many interesting cultural aspects and locations that Peter mentions through the book, the five that I chose seemed to be the most intriguing to me because of the personal stories that go with them. The dilemma with Ed and the sea turtle, the marvelous sunrise that Peter and Diego witnessed at the summit of Mount Pico, the "obsession" the Peter had with finding the lignum vitea wood, Breath herself, and of course the unusual little black dog were all topics that I chose to research.
2. A Rigorous Researcher or Investigator looks up
background information related to the book and selects 3-
5 topics from the reading (i.e. language, culture, foods,
plants, etc.) and researches them in depth to further
support understanding of the book.
Although there were many interesting cultural aspects and
locations that Peter mentions through the book, the five
that I chose seemed to be the most intriguing to me
because of the personal stories that go with them. The
dilemma with Ed and the sea turtle, the marvelous sunrise
that Peter and Diego witnessed at the summit of Mount
Pico, the "obsession" the Peter had with finding the lignum
vitea wood, Breath herself, and of course the unusual little
black dog were all topics that I chose to research.
3. Fast Facts
Endangered Green (__http://animals.nationalgeographic.co
Sea Turtles: Chapter 5 m/animals/reptiles/green-turtle/__)
Green sea turtles are reptiles
whose ancestors evolved on land
Type: Reptile
and took to the sea to live about
150 million years ago. They are
Diet: Herbivore
one of the few species so ancient
that they watched the dinosaurs
Average life span in the wild: Over
evolve and become extinct. 80 years
Size: Up to 5 ft (1.5 m)
Weight: Up to 700 lbs (317.5 kg)
Group name: Bale
Protection status: Endangered
Did you know? Like other sea
turtles, the green turtle cannot
pull its head into its shell.
4. Size relative to a 6-ft man
Endangered
Green Sea
Turtles: Chapter 5
Green Sea Turtle Range (In Yellow)
5. Ilheu do Pico- Azores or Pico Island,
Portugal (Chapter 16)
View from the
summit of Pico
as described on
page 125 below.
historiadeportugal.info
6. The island of Pico, as seen from the north-central coast, showing the
__São Roque__ in the foreground and __Mount Pico__ in the background.
Pico Island is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores
noted for its eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest
mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-
Atlantic Ridge. The highest point in elevation is 2,351 m (7,713 ft) and is
only 29 miles long and 10 miles wide.
(__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_Island__)
7. Lignum Vitae (Ch. 28)
Lignum vitae is a slow-growing tree native to the US Virgin Islands. Its name means
“Wood of Life,” and it is renowned for its medicinal qualities. The wood of this tree is
among the densest in the world. Lignum Vitae is regarded by most to be both the
heaviest and hardest wood in the world. Its durability in submerged or ground-contact
applications is also exceptional. Lignum Vitae has been used for propeller shaft bearings
on ships, and its natural oils provide self-lubrication that gives the wood excellent wear
resistance. Unfortunately, Lignum Vitae has been exploited to the brink of extinction, and
is now an endangered species. (__http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-
identification/hardwoods/lignum-vitae__/)
8. A lignum vitae leaf decoction has reportedly
been used in the USVI and Curacao to treat
diabetes and asthma. The leaf juice has also
been used to treat biliousness (digestive
complaints). A poultice made from the leaves
has sometimes been used to treat
rheumatism. Leaves are boiled and ingested
as a diuretic tea on Middle Caicos in the West
Indies, and a mash of the leaves is also used
there for treating swollen areas or small
wounds on the body. Decoctions of the tree’s
resin or bark, meanwhile, have been used to
treat venereal diseases. The tree achieved
great recognition for this use in Puerto Rico.
Lignum vitae resin has also been used to
alleviate skin disorders and gout and to treat
cuts and bruises. Haitians have sometimes
applied the resin to toothaches. A bark
decoction has been taken orally for fish
poisonings in the USVI and Puerto Rico.
http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issu
e81/article3380.html Lignum VitaeGuaiacum officinale, Zygophyllaceae
9. Gaff Ketch- 42. ft.
Sailboat (a.k.a Breath)
A ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main
mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft (rearward
of) the main mast, but forward of the rudder post.
The ketch is popular among long distance cruisers
as the additional sail allows for a better balance,
and a smaller more easily handled mainsail for the
same overall sail area. It also allows sailing on
mizzen and jib only without introducing excessive
lee helm, and in an emergency can be quite well
steered without use of the rudder. The ketch is a
popular rig in northern European waters where
sudden increases in wind strength sometimes
require a rapid reefing: the mainsail can be
dropped, reducing sail and leaving a balanced sail-
plan with jib and mizzen set.
__(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketch)__
10. Gaff rig is is a sailing rig
(configuration of sails) in
which the sail is four-
cornered, fore-and-aft
rigged, controlled at its peak
and, usually, its entire head
by a spar (pole) called the
gaff. The gaff enables a fore
and aft sail to be four sided,
rather than triangular, and as
much as doubles the sail area
that can be carried by that
mast and boom (if a boom is
used in the particular rig).
Additionally, for any given
A gaff rigged sail and its surrounding spar area of sail, the gaff rig will
have a lower heeling moment
than a triangular sail.
(__http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Gaff_rig)__
11. Schipperke dogs
(a.k.a. Santos)
Bred in Belgium, the exact
translation of the name is
controversial but is generally
accepted as a Flemish word
meaning little skipper or
boatman. The breed dates back to
the 16th century and the dogs
were used as guard dogs and
“killers of vermin” on canal boats
in the region, as described by the
American Kennel Club.
__http://www.examiner.com/arti
cle/adopt-a-boat-dog-
schipperkes-make-great-ones__
12. Schipperkes stand 11-13 inches and weigh about 15 pounds,
making them the perfect boat dog in size. They are easy to carry
on and off the boat and can be trained to relieve themselves on a
certain spot on deck.
The Schipperke is smart, alert and curious. They get along with
children and dogs of all sizes. Grooming is kept to a minimum and
they shed their undercoat twice a year. We only brush their thick
coat when they are shedding and they get baths when needed.
