The game of goose applied to the countries of the world. Engraving by Antoine de Fer after Louis Richer.

Le jeu des nations principales de la terre universelle ou leurs moeurs, leur modes et leur coutumes

A Paris (en l'isle du palais sur le quay qui regarde la Mesgisserie à l'aage de fer et la sphere royale) : Chés Antoine de Fer, marchand de taille douce et enlumineur de cartes geographiques ..., [between 1652 and 1673]

1 print : engraving

Le iev des nations principales de la terre universelle ou leurs moeurs, leur modes et leur coutumes, sony particulierement des peints, pour instruire et recréer tout ensemble les curieux de l'histoire et de la geographie. Recueilli de plusieurs autheurs par Louis Richer delinea. ...

The sections, and translations of selected descriptions, are given below

1: America: the Americans in general are of little heart except for certain tribes; idolaters and savages for the most part, living only on fish and wild beasts. They go completely unclothed, painting their skin with the juice of certain roots

2: Canada [showing Quebec]: the Canadians are a medium size people with little thought for the future. Their women busy themselves at home while the men fish, and hunt beaver and Bull Moose, whose flesh feeds them and whose skin clothes them. They believe in, and consult often, their god Cudouagny. [There is a separate instruction to stay two turns at this space to be entertained by the French.]

3: New Mexico [showing Santa Fe]: both the men and the women are tall, the former unclothed and the latter dressed, with faces painted in stripes. Some work the land while others hunt for deer. The Christians who have been among them say there is no trace of idolatry

4: Florida [showing St. Augustine]: well-proportioned people, olive skinned, inclined to theft and vengeance. They like war and fishing. They live on bread and corn and honey. Their drink is made from cassina [Yau-pon, an evergreen holly whose dried leaves make a kind of tea]. They cover themselves with deerskin, paint and figure their skin. They worship the sun and the moon and their priests serve as their doctors

5: California: they are quite tall and of good temperament, with a lively spirit but not curious. They go about unclothed and only cover their parts. They are very jealous of their women, whom one dare not approach without risking one’s life. They live on corn and flesh of deer and are all idolaters

6: Ancient Mexicans

7: Antilles: pay to have liberty among the former people of America

8. Panama

9. Guyana

10. Peru

11: Brazil [showing San Salvador]: stay until rescued by another

12: Paraguay

13: Chile

14: Magellanians [showing Ciudad del Rey Felipe]

15: Africa: there are Africans both dark and light skinned and in consequence of the great extent of their country, there are many races to give them their character and it is necessary to deal with each of these in particular

16: Fez

17: Morocco

18: Barbary coast [Algeria]

19: Egypt

20: Biledulgerid [formerly a country in Northern Africa, south of Mount Atlas] showing Taroudante [now in Morocco]: go back to the Peruvians (space 10) to avoid meeting such a savage people

21: "Nègres" (Timbuktoo)

22: Guinois

23: Ethiopians

24: Asia: the Asiatics are effeminate as they were formerly. However, there are some peoples who are robust and fat, uncivilised, like the Tartars. They have hardly any religion other than Mohammedanism, except for certain idolaters

25: Asiatic Turkey showing Alep [Aleppo]: who falls into the hands of the Asiatic Turks must pay the ransom and wait until rescued by another

26: Persians

27: Indians

28: Chinese

29: Tartary, showing Cambalu: return to space 19 to avoid a people so barbarous

30: Europe is the most brilliant and the most beautiful part of the World. Its peoples are skilled in Arms and Letters, richer that other nations and more civilised. Christianity is almost universal though it is divided into several sects

31: Turks in Europe

32: Muscovites

33: Swedes

34: Danes

35: The English [showing London] are golden blond, well made, and their women are among the most beautiful; the nobles are learned and civil while the common people are impudent, overbearing and rough; they eat more flesh than bread, drink beer and wine, dress in the French fashion except for the merchants who wear tall hats; they are Protestant in relig[ion]

36: Spain, showing Madrid: who visits the Spanish must stay there without paying, to bring about Peace, while the others play three times

38: Poles

39: The Italians [showing Rome] are of a good size, with a lively interest in science, business and war; they are industrious to make their fortune; but they are also scornful, tricky, and vindictive braggarts, pleasure-seekers in their way of life; they dress casually; Catholics without exception

40: The Germans [showing Vienna, the capital of the territories then ruled by the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine] are respected, not least for their appetite: the men are large and fat because of the beer, and their women fair and fresh; they love music, are inventive and industrious in Arts and Literature. They are three or four hours at table, eating and drinking in quantity. The nobles and the rich dress after the French fashion. They are almost all Protestant

41: Holland, showing Amsterdam: embark to make a new voyage round the word, starting at America

37: Portuguese

42: Flemish

43: The French [showing Paris] are of advantageous size with beautiful heads and of good appearance; the women are charming both in body and in spirit, often changing their fashions one with another and magnificent in their festivals, faithful to their king, courteous to foreigners and very Catholic

Wellcome Collection 35129i

Exhibited in ‘The Cult of Beauty’ at Wellcome Collection, London, 26 October 2023 – 28 April 2024