Did you ever hear tell of Sweet Betsy from Pike,
Who crossed the wide mountains with her
     lover Ike,
With two yoke of cattle and one spotted hog,
A tall Shanghai rooster and an old yellow dog.

They passed the Sierras through mountains
     of snow,
Till old California was sighted below.
Sweet Betsy, she hollered, and Ike gave
     a cheer,
Saying, “Betsy, my darlin’, I’m a made
     millioneer.”

Folk song, 1850s
 

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Bowie knife
c. 1850
Autry Museum of Western Heritage
Los Angeles