| Tahquitz | |
|---|---|
Spirit of Evil or Death | |
| Abode | Mount San Jacinto or Tahquitz Canyon |
| Gender | Male |
| Region | Southern California, Riverside County |
| Ethnic group | Native American: Cahuilla, Kumeyaay and Luiseño |
Tahquitz (/tɑːˈkwiːts/, sometimes /ˈtɑːkɪts/) is a spirit found in the legends of the Cahuilla, Kumeyaay and Luiseño Native American people of Southern California. Accounts of the legend vary significantly, but most agree that Tahquitz represents evil or death, and his spirit makes its home on Mount San Jacinto. Some accounts report that he steals people and/or their souls and devours them on the mountain. Tahquitz manifests himself in the form of fireballs, lightning, meteors and thunderous sounds on the mountain and in the canyons.[1][2]