In the parish of Lofta in the department of North Tjust there lies,
near the sea, a mountain called Puke Mountain. From the land side
running into the mountain, there is a long fissure terminating in a
cave or hall, where formerly lived a giant called Puke, concerning whom
many stories are still quite prevalent among the people.
When the church at Lofta was built the giant was sorely tormented by
the church bells. He suffered great discomfort even from the water
courses which gurgled out of the mountain, and in a meadow directly
north of Lofta Church, was formed a pond, Kofre Spring, in which holy
baptism was sometimes performed.
Puke often declared that he must depart from his mountain because of
Kofre Spring and Lofta scolding, meaning the church bells in Lofta.
One Sunday the Giant was more than usually disturbed by the long
continued bell ringing, and sent his daughter to the top of the
mountain, from which, with her apron strings converted into a sling,
she threw an enormous stone at the church tower. But the force was too
great, and the stone fell upon the other side of the church, where it
lies to this day, as large as a good sized cottage.
Some days later the giant maiden, while wandering over the surrounding
country, was attracted by three children at play on a hill near by.
They had discovered a fallen branch of an oak tree, and to this they
had fastened a rope, pretending it was a plow, which one was holding as
the others dragged it over the ground. Surprised at this curious
implement and the small creatures, she gathered them all into her apron
and ran home with them to her giant father. He, however, found no
pleasure in the intended playthings but said only:
“Take them out again, our time is past; it is now these who shall rule
over us.”
In the end Puke became dissatisfied with everything and moved to
Götland, where he was some time later found by a ship’s master, to whom
he gave a box, and bade him offer it upon the altar at Lofta while the
people were in church, cautioning him strongly not to open it before.
“If you do as I bid you,” said the Giant, “you will find, under the
left fore-foot of Lofta’s white mare—meaning the church—a key, with
which you are to proceed to Puke Mountain. There you will see a door,
which you shall open. When you are inside you will meet two black dogs.
Do not be afraid of them, but press forward into the room, where you
will find a table and upon it many beautiful silver vessels. Of them
you may take the largest, but if you take anything more, misfortune
will surely overtake you.”
The captain kept this all in mind, but when he approached Puke
Mountain, on his journey homeward, the conversation of the ship’s
people was turned to the box. After many deliberations, it was
determined to throw it overboard onto a small island which lay near by.
This was done, and upon the instant the island was in flames, and even
to-day it is brown and desolate as if it had recently been swept by a
fire.