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My Indian relatives called big foot something else. they weren't to afraid of the creatures when they saw them, usually down by creeks fishing with there hands. But they did refer to them as Devils, or the Takwis.

I was told that they would and still do travel from the San Jacinto MT's down into the Inland areas of Riverside following the Santa Ana river all the way down to the Green river area of Corona where they fish and live amongst the trees of the Green river Golf course.

According to records of Spanish Priest in 1777, several were witnessed fishing and traversing the SA River near the Norco area just about where the current day 15 freeway is today. They would come down by the thousands from the Mts during the winter time and winter along the entire length of the Santa Ana River from Green river back up to the Grand Terrace Area of Riverside. This according to Spanish Missionaries and Monks.

According to the Spanish several were spotted in the water and when asked by there Indian slaves what these people were, they were told that they called them the Towis or Takwis and they usually avoided them because they would attach if approached.

The Spanish also reported that there was a Takwis trial that led north along the base of the Chino Hill's through Pomona into the Brea canyon area. Lots of canyons and trees for these people to hide. And in an area just north of Lavern in the San Garbreil Canyon, Takwis could be seen at night crossing the river according to the local Indian tribes and Spanish.

The Spanish referring to them as the tall red devils because of there long hair and height said that they would always go around an area if it were thought that a Takwis was about. They said they didn't need to see one to know it was there. The smell it left behind as it moved through an area was stronger than any poop smell.

According to the Spanish and Indians who lived on Thomas MT and in Anza, there were several caves in the San Jacinto MT's that the Takwis were said to live during the summer.

Several reports of large hairy figures moving through the forest down to Lake Hemet to fish are known to have been made by the Spanish and eventually white men in the area.

During the summer months, it was said that the Takwis could be seen to throw balls of fire from Lily rock. And finally where the modern day Tram is located it too was referred to as one of the home of the giant Takwis by the local Indians. Tahquitz Peak is named for the Big Foot of the San Jacinto MT's.

1930 sightings:

Several miners and fishermen from time to time would about their encounters with Big Foot. Often times as they were occupied minning, they would hear something in the underbrush and just as they look up they see a tall red or black haired shaggy like animal or human like ape fishing or walking through the swampy reeds of the Santa Ana River.

It would be days before a scarred miner would return to his diggings afraid of running to the big monsters again.

In the 1950's, several fishermen fishing in the area where the modern day 15 freeway crosses the Santa Ana, reported seeing a family of Big Foots digging along the north bank. The fishermen figured that if they left them alone the Big Foots would leave them alone to their fishing. As it happened, no one had any cameras with them to take any pictures.

1996 sightings:

A man and his son report watching two big foots up in the Northern reaches of Grand Terrace area. Other people report sighting Big Foots near the old Manza Graveyard along the Santa River.

2008: Modern Day sightings.

To this date there have been no reports of seeing Big Foot anywhere in the southern California area. So if you think you have seen one report it and become famous. Everyone is entitled to their 15 minutes of fame, even if it is a bit skewed.

Gary Hall, the ghostpainter