The Princess of Javasu

One evening in Almondsbury, England, a woman appeared wearing a black turban and speaking a language no one recognized. She used signs to explain that she was a princess from a distant island who had been kidnapped by pirates and jumped overboard to escape. Local dignitaries were so fascinated by her exotic manners—such as praying to a god named 'Allah Tallah' and using a bow and arrow—that they welcomed her into their homes.

The Great Deception

'Princess Caraboo' became a sensation in Bristol society. She performed elaborate tea ceremonies, danced on rooftops, and even met with visiting aristocrats. Her ruse was so successful that she was even featured in local newspapers. However, the facade crumbled when a boarding house owner recognized her as Mary Baker, a servant who had previously entertained children with her invented languages and strange stories.

Life After the Hoax

After her exposure, Mary Baker traveled to America and France, attempting to capitalize on her fame, but she never recaptured the magic of her time as a princess. She eventually returned to England, where she spent her final years quietly selling leech eggs to the Bristol Infirmary.

• Invented an entire fictional language and religion.
• Fooled some of the most educated people in Regency England.
• Subject of a 1994 film starring Phoebe Cates.