Kumeyaay - Ah Kwir (Red Paint) - Ah Kwir' (Red Paint)
Ah Kwir (red paint) - Ah Kwir' (red paint) is the name of a war paint which was made from very fine dirt taken from a hill somewhere out in the desert. It was of great value when the warriors painted their faces and bodies with the insignia of their tribe. The desert Indians were accustomed to bring it with other desert products up to the mountains to barter in trade with the tribes living there.
One of the numerous "Coyote Stories" of the Indians living on the Cuyamacas gives their version of how this famous Ar Kwir' (red paint) came into existence.
Huta-pah (coyote), the meanest man who ever lived, was waiting and watching for his feeble old father to die. He told the people that he wanted to watch until death came so he might see that he body of his beloved father was properly burned and given ceremonial burial. But the people knew what a liar he was, and that he only wanted to be there that he might devour the body of his father.
So, Orse (Bear) said, "No! Nim-me' (Wildcat) and 'e kwuk (Deer) and the rest of the people will watch by the side of your sick father. You go off and hunt something to eat, you are always hungry."
He sulked and whined, but they made him go, and slowly he loped down the trail. Shortly he returned, saying he could not find a thing to eat. Surmising he that had only been hiding in the bushes waiting his father's death, they sent him away once more. Again he came back with nothing, and repeated this performance till they lost all patience, and finally they said, "Go far, far away and hunt. If you dare return before In'ya (Sun) takes his night rest, we shall kill you."
This time he really went a long distance, for, with all his sly, crafty ways, he was a big coward and their threats frightened him.
His father died while he was gone, and the people started a fire as quickly as possible, and began burning the body in order that it might be consumed before Huta-pah' (coyote) got back.
Now he was many miles away when the smoke from that funeral pyre rose up through the tall pines, and drifted off on the breeze, but his keen nose scented it, and he turned back at a great rate of speed.
Orse (bear) and 'e kwuk (deer) and Nim-me' (wildcat) and the other people heard him coming and drew close together in a circle around the fire, guarding the dead body of his father.
Shrieking and wailing as he drew near, he cried, "I must see my dear father once more before he is all burned up." But they paid no heed to his cries for they knew what a bad man he was.
Then, in his crafty way, he discovered that there was a low place in the defensive circle where Nim-me' (wildcat) stood, for he you know, is quite a short person; so Huta-pah' (coyote) sneaked back in the brush, made a running jump over Nim-me's head and landed by the side of his father's body.
Snatching out the heart from the glowing embers of fire, away he dashed. Across valleys and mountains he ran, and far out on the desert sands.
Finally he stopped on a hill on the other side, and ate up the heart of his father. As the red drops of blood slowly oozed from his cruel jaws and fell to the ground beneath, the entire hillside assumed a ruddy hue. And to this day, the earth there retains the color of the blood which dripped from the heart of Huta-pah's (coyote's) father.