Adams] SHONTO : ROLE OF NAVAHO TRADER 189 



compartments. Such classification represents the trader's conception 

 of the family's basic resom-ce. Nevertheless a very large number of 

 families are entitled to credit on more than one basis during some part 

 of the year, and this has to be taken into account. 



Livestock credit, against wool sales in the spring and lamb sales in 

 the fall, is granted to every large livestock-owning household in 

 Shonto community, and to some 25 other households from as far away 

 as Kaibito and Navajo Mountain (cf. Luomala, 1938, p. 5). It is the 

 only credit allowed to Navahos from outside the commmiity (see be- 

 low). Credit limits are based on records of previous sales multiplied 

 by the anticipated lamb or wool price, as the case may be. Wool 

 credit is ordinarily "open" from December to May, and lamb credit 

 from May to September, so that for practical purposes livestock 

 owners can live on credit throughout the year except during the 

 months of October and November (see chart B, p. 143) . 



In addition to livestock, regular cash income is a basis for credit 

 mider certain conditions. As a general rule (followed by all trading 

 posts) , it must be received in the form of checks mailed to or in care 

 of the store. It is widely believed by traders that Navahos, although 

 reasonably conscientious in paying their livestock bills, are untrust- 

 worthy with cash. "If you don't get your hands on the check first 

 you'll never see it" is the expression used by traders to sum up their 

 credit policy. 



The theory underlying check policy is not that the check can be 

 taken away from its intended recipient, but simply that it is neces- 

 sary for the trader to know when and how much income is received by 

 his creditors, and to let them know that he knows. Few Navahos will 

 refuse to pay on account when they are known to have the wherewith- 

 all to do so, for an immediate stoppage of credit will almost inevitably 

 follow such refusal. On the other hand no one can be expected to pay 

 on account if he has no money to do so ; hence, traders believe, Navahos 

 are inclined to conceal the fact that they have received money so as to 

 save it for other purposes. The inestimable advantage of a check or 

 money order, from the trader's point of view, is that it will almost 

 certainly have to be negotiated at the trading post, and so come under 

 his cognizance. Checks have the additional advantage that they are 

 usually mailed in readily recognizable envelopes. 



In nearly all parts of the reservation Navahos receive their mail in 

 care of the local trading post, since there is no rural free delivery. 

 Many trading posts are also fourth-class post offices. In the Shonto 

 area, however, mail is delivered only to Red Lake (P. O. Tonalea), 

 from whence it must be picked up by Shonto, Cow Springs, Inscrip- 

 tion House, Navajo Mountain, and Kaibito for distribution to their 

 local clientele. At the trading post, mail is kept behind the counter 



