SANTA MARTHA. 61 



I was introduced, on the 20th, to Colonel 

 Rieux, who was governor of this place at 

 the time of its late capture by the Indians. 

 I found him one of the most intelligent men 

 I ever met with amongst the natives of Co- 

 lombia. His parents were French, but he 

 was educated in this country. He is men- 

 tioned by Humboldt as having rendered 

 some assistance to that celebrated travel- 

 ler during his tour in New Grenada ; and 

 in fact aided him in some of his scientific 

 calculations, although at that time only 

 fourteen years of age. Since that period 

 he has usefully employed himself in con- 

 structing charts of all the principal rivers 

 in Colombia, which will materially tend to 

 facilitate the commerce with the interior. 

 He proposed that we should proceed to- 

 gether to the capital, whither he was 

 called, as a member of the senate, to at- 

 tend Congress, and where he was also to 

 abide the decision of a court-martial with 



