Who is Don Federico from Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft and what is their importance?

Don Federico manages the plantation near where Thor and Herman obtain their fresh balsa logs. He gives the two adventurers a feast when they arrive, explains how to handle scorpions and shows them his wild orchid collection. With the help of Don Federico's men, Thor and Herman find all the logs they need and float them down a river to the coast.