164 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BoU. 188 



The resident trader is in full charge of all on-the-spot operations 

 involved in the store and plant. To a large extent he combines the 

 roles of retail manager, credit manager, clerk, day bookkeeper, and 

 maintenance man. His regular duties include opening and closing 

 the store, handling all retail transactions except some cash sales, keep- 

 ing daysheets for accounting purposes, fill-in merchandise ordering, 

 arranging for supplies of gasoline, diesel fuel (for the generator) and 

 oil, butane, coal and wood, and keeping up the premises and equipment. 

 In the last analysis, the resident trader is simply a general storekeeper ; 

 all his other duties are ancillary in character. The position has been 

 filled by no less than 11 individuals since Shonto was bought by its 

 present owners in 1945. It was occupied by the writer during most 

 of the time when the present study was made (see "Introduction," 

 pp. 12-14). 



Although nearly all trading posts employ one or more Navaho 

 helpers, Shonto is believed to be the only store on the reservation 

 which regularly employs a helper who does not speak English. As 

 a result his role is considerably more limited than that of native 

 clerks in other stores. Like most Navahos, he can and does read 

 numbers and hence is able to make cash sales, having acquired con- 

 siderable adeptness in operating the cash register. He cannot, of 

 course, handle any recorded transactions. Aside from sales clerking 

 he serves as warehouseman, stocker, gardener, and general handyman. 

 He spends most of his time moving merchandise in and out of the 

 warehouse, stocking shelves, making gasoline deliveries (a job which 

 is considered onerous, since Shonto has only a gravity pump), jani- 

 toring, watering lawns, and doing odd jobs on the premises. Building 

 and stoking fires is one of his most constant jobs throughout the 

 winter months. His work routine throughout the day is under the 

 supervision of the resident trader. 



Shonto Trading Post is always compelled to put on additional 

 ETavaho help at peak seasons. One or two wool sackers and sorters 

 are needed in April and May, and several herders are required for 

 the fall lamb drive to the railroad. Sometimes extra clerical help, 

 either Navaho or White, is hired for a few hours or days under ex- 

 treme rush conditions, as during lamb season. 



BUSINESS OPERATION 



Shonto Tradmg Post is open for business every day of the week 

 except Sunday, and including holidays, throughout the year. Busi- 

 ness hours vary seasonally and to some extent according to demand. 

 Usual hours are from about Y:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. during the 

 summer and from 8 :30 a.m. until 5 :00 p.m. in winter. However, it 

 is common practice to reopen the store for late customers up to 7 :30 

 or 8:00 p.m., and to open on Sundays to accommodate clients who 



