216 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BuU. 188 



Trading Post is considered to have a considerable number of discrete 

 functions in the community, as diagrammed in charts J and K 

 (pp. 249, 251). 



ACTIVITY 



Activities are the behavioral aspects of function, and, in a much 

 broader sense, the empirical measure of role itself. Every function 

 of the trading post is manifest in certain empirically observable activi- 

 ties, hence "constellations of behavior." The activities of Shonto 

 Trading Post manifesting its function as a sales and credit agency 

 were detailed on pages 184-214. Kemaining activities of the trading 

 post will be described below. 



TYPES OF FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES 



Of the wide variety of functions performed by Shonto Trading 

 Post, only a portion are inherent in its formal charter as a general 

 store. These are the f mictions which contribute directly to the ulti- 

 mate profit goal, and are to that extent deliberate, voluntary, and 

 initiated or sustained by the store itself. They may appropriately 

 be termed "charter functions." 



There remains a considerable series of functions arising out of the 

 operational charters of the trading post as a community center and a 

 channel of cross-cultural communication (cf . pp. 231-267) . Although 

 in actual performance these functions can often be made to serve the 

 interests of the store in one way or another (see pp. 267-297), they are 

 largely initiated by and sustained for the benefit of others. They 

 are therefore designated as "ancillary functions" in distinction to 

 "charter functions." Ancillary functions may be further distinguished 

 as between those which serve primarily the interests of Navahos, and 

 those which are initiated by and for White institutions. 



CHARTER FUNCTIONS 



Many of the charter functions of Shonto Trading Post were de- 

 scribed in "Eetail Trade," pp. 184-214; particularly those contribut- 

 ing to the operational objectives of maximum sales and minimum com- 

 petition. These are functions which in principle are common to many 

 retail businesses. In addition to these, however, the Navaho trading 

 post has indirect but nevertheless significant opportunities, probably 

 unique in retail trade, to increase its profit by increasing the cash 

 income and buying power of its clientele. Such activities constitute 

 a series of what may appropriately be tenned charter functions, even 

 though they are not normally associated with trade. In addition to 

 being a mercantile agency, Shonto Trading Post serves its Navaho 

 clientele directly and effectively as an employment agency, a benefit 

 agent, and a bank (cf . Kluckhohn and Leighton, 1946, p. 38 ; Sanders 



