358 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[Bull. 196 



Table 11. — Comparative measurements of adult Ramah Navaho Indians and adult 

 White residents of Ann Arbor, Mich. 



Measurement 



Ramah Navaho Indians 



Males 

 (N=101) 



Mean S.D 



Females 

 (N=117) 



Mean S.D 



Ann Arbor Whites 



Males 

 (N=202) 



Mean S.D 



Females 

 (N=2281 



Mean S.D 



Weight (pounds) 



Stature (cm.)... 



Sitting height (cm.) 



Head length (mm.) 



Head breadth (mm.) 



Head height (mm.) 



Minimum frontal breadth (mm.) 



Bizygomatic breadth (mm.) 



Bigonial breadth (mm.) 



Total face height (mm.) 



Upper face height (mm.).. 



Nose height (mm.). 



Nose breadth (mm.) 



133.1 

 167.3 

 88.8 

 182.7 

 158.0 

 126.8 

 110.1 

 148.0 

 109.7 

 119.3 

 68.9 

 51.7 

 39.0 



21.1 

 6.3 

 3.1 

 6.7 

 5.6 

 6.6 

 4.3 

 5.1 

 5.1 

 6.1 

 4.0 

 3.5 

 2.9 



122.3 

 156.4 

 82.3 

 174.1 

 160.6 

 124.3 

 107.5 

 140.2 

 104.1 

 111.8 

 64.8 

 47.0 

 36.4 



21.0 

 6.0 

 3.5 

 6.3 

 5.3 

 6.6 

 3.5 

 4.2 

 4.4 

 5.0 

 3.9 

 3.1 

 2.8 



167.8 

 174.6 

 91.6 

 197.0 

 154.0 

 133.7 

 107.7 

 140.3 

 106.2 

 121.9 

 71.4 

 55.1 

 36.3 



25.9 

 6.5 

 3.4 

 6.6 

 6.1 

 7.3 

 4.7 

 6.1 

 6.4 

 7.4 

 6.0 

 4.4 

 3.1 



134.0 

 161.4 

 86.0 

 185.6 

 147.2 

 126.6 

 102.8 

 131.3 

 98.0 

 111.6 

 66.4 

 60.9 

 32.5 



25.0 

 6.1 

 3.2 

 6.5 

 5.3 

 7.4 

 6.0 

 4.9 

 6.4 

 6.2 

 4.3 

 3.6 

 2.7 



SOCIAL ORGANIZATION 



The technical details of the Navaho kinship system have been 

 reviewed by Bellah (1952) and others. Here only some salient points 

 will be mentioned. Descent is matrilineal. The brothers of the 

 mother play an important role with her children as disciplinarians, 

 in arranging marriages, and in inheritance. Maternal grandparents 

 also take considerable responsibiUty, though this may be assumed by 

 paternal grandparents in the case of patrilocal residence. There are 

 separate terms for maternal grandfather and grandmother, only one 

 term for paternal grandparents. The relationships between siblings 

 of the same sex is characterized by closeness and solidarity (especially 

 in the case of sisters) ; toward siblings of opposite sex, restraint and 

 respect are observed. There are joking relationships of various types 

 and intensities between relatives of various classes, that with both 

 male and female cross-cousins being coarse. Mother-in-law and 

 son-in-law avoid each other. 



Each Navaho belongs to the clan of the mother and is "born for" 

 the clan of the father. Members of one's own clan are addressed by 

 the same kinship terms that are used for immediate biological relatives 

 of corresponding sex and generation. There are sentimental linkages 

 and some economic reciprocities between aU clansmen. These apply — 

 but in attenuated form — to the gi'oup of two to five clans that are 

 "linked" to one's own. In recent generations, however, the prime 

 function of clans and of linked clan groups has been that of regulating 

 marriage. One may not marry: 



1. A member of one's own clan 



2. A member of one's father's clan 



3. A member of a clan "linked" to one's own clan 



4. A member of a clan "linked" to one's father's clan 



