Adams] SHONTO : ROLE OF NAVAHO TRADER 61 



the first descending generation, and two females in the second de- 

 scending generation. Five resident lineages are seen to be identical 

 with residence groups. 



CLANS 



Navaho clans have been studied exhaustively by Reichard (1928), 

 and their function and significance in modern Navaho life have 

 been set forth by KJuckhohn and Leighton (1946, pp. 63-65) in 

 terms which perfectly characterize Shonto. Like resident lineages, 

 Shonto's clans are of much more historical than functional signifi- 

 cance. Their uneven distribution among the various lineages sheds a 

 certain amomit of additional light upon the sources of original set- 

 tlement in the Shonto area. 



Virtually the sole surviving function of the clan is in the limita- 

 tion of marriage choices ; clan exogamy at Shonto remains universal. 

 On the positive side, how^ever, no pattern of clan preference in 

 marriage is discernible. The frequency of marriage between dif- 

 ferent pairs of clans is proportional throughout to the numerical 

 strength of the clans themselves. Beyond limiting marriage choice, 

 clan affiliation serves only to establish certain special etiquette pat- 

 terns as between members, especially if they happen to be strangers. 

 The relations and reciprocal behavior established are essentially simi- 

 lar to those which ensue when two Anglo-American namesakes meet 

 by chance, and probably have no more functional significance. Eco- 

 nomic and social responsibility for clan brothers and sisters are 

 definitely things of the past at Shonto (cf . lOuckhohn and Leighton, 

 1946, p. 65). It is readily observable that interaction between house- 

 holds and residence groups is determined by blood relationship with- 

 out reference to clan. 



More than any other factor, it is probably the lack of a clear- 

 cut residence tradition (see below) which has in the long run robbed 

 Shonto's clans of most of their functional significance. The result 

 of this situation is that clans cut completely across territorial lines, 

 and cannot be correlated with any of the regular functional units of 

 Shonto society. 



Members of at least 13 clans are resident at Shonto today, as shown 

 in table 10. 



Only the first six clans in the list, plus kinlichi'ini, were present in 

 the Shonto area two generations ago. The clan inventory is extremely 

 limited as compared with other Navaho communities (cf. Carr, Spen- 

 cer, and Woolley, 1939; Kluckhohn and Leighton, 1946, p. 64). In 

 addition to those represented in the community, only 14 additional 

 clans are recognized by some Shonto informants. Many of the clans 

 given separate designation by Reichard (1928, pp. 11-13) are believed 

 to be not merely linked but identical. In particular, all of the clans 



