Take a Joke, Joe

During the Great Salt Lake expedition, Walker met up with some Bannocks, a Shoshoni people given to murder and thievery with a bad reputation among mountaineers.  Walker, however, seemed to have gotten on well enough by camping with them and exchanging small tradegoods for topographical information.   From this Walker decided to go directly through the salt desert to the upper reaches and the Humboldt River and follow it downstream.  

The only truly funny story that exists about Joseph Walker takes place here when he was concerned that the River which was actually 5" of thick mud, was indeed a deep stream.  Walker dove right in - then reportedly threatened to kill the person responsible when laughter broke out at meal time where he eyelids were still caked with mud.  It was never mentioned on the trail again.  

Next time... The Paiuntes Incident