(The snow-covered, saw-toothed mountain range)
Puritan settlers. Pictures found here.
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Puritu Legend
The Puritu began as a small group of excommunicated Puritans from New England, exiled in the 17th century. Over the next 200 years, they moved further west, but remained Puritan. Eventually though, after their numbers dwindled, they welcomed in freed and runaway slaves and incorporated the West African Vodun religion (which is based in the practice of keeping witches and spirits away -- something the witch-fearing Puritans welcomed). Eventually, the combination of religions formed the Puritu. The Puritu never grew to large numbers though and temporarily found homes in Kentucky and Missouri, eventually following the trail paved by the Donner Party to the California foothills on the west side of the Sierra.
The Puritu, at its height, had around 2,000 members. Currently, it has a few hundred, who live in a tight community and operate gas stations along various routes from California to Nevada, that run through the Sierra Nevada. The name of the company is Kojo Enterprises, who's founder, Peter Kojo III (1860-1948), was a descendent of Jonathan Allister.
Okay, there's the history, now, what about the legends, you ask? Well, the Puritu are often mistake for Native Americans, and their heritage is often mis-communicated. However, the legends come from rumors and accusations in the late 19th and early 20th century.
The rumors are that somewhere along the way, the Puritu religion became a bastardization of its Puritan roots, forming into a ritualistic-like secret cult. There were accusations of heresy, sacrifice, cannibalism and the worship and display of the mummified remains of ancestral bodies.
Supposedly, north of Jackson, near the area of land once known as Verde Hills, a community of Hill Folk still practice these rituals. At certain times of year, people have reported seeing the Puritu worship the mummified dead, cast spells, and sacrifice lost travelers. Of course, none if this is anything other than speculation. Witnesses are also very unwilling to divulge details of encounters for fear of Puritu curses which will not just curse a person, but an entire family throughout their existence.
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