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The Mysterious Formosan
- In 1703, a blonde, fair-skinned man arrived in London claiming to be from Formosa (Taiwan).
- This was despite Europeans having contact with diverse populations for centuries.
Explaining the Unexplainable
- Europeans' lack of knowledge about genetics allowed for environmental explanations of Psalmanazar's appearance.
- He claimed Formosans lived underground, explaining his fair skin.
Fabricated Evidence
- George Psalmanazar, the alleged Formosan, fabricated a language and wrote a bible using invented symbols.
- He also invented extensive details about Formosan culture.