288 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BuU. 188 



(cf. Sanders et al., 1953, p. 234). There is, however, a profound 

 difference between the permissible latitude in joking as between trader 

 and Navaho. The trader may be teased only on the crudest physical 

 and physiological subjects. Even in jest any impugnment of his 

 honesty, capability, or authority is strictly tabu, and will result in an 

 immediate angry reaction. Also, any joking aspersions on the ideals 

 of industriousness and wealth, and behavior connected therewith, are 

 forbidden. Finally, Navahos may not touch the trader or play any 

 practical joke on him. 



The trader, on the other hand, can and does tease the Navaho on 

 nearly all subjects (although he generally avoids offending Navaho 

 religious beliefs as best he can ) , and also plays practical jokes on them, 

 slaps them on the back, and the like. He is particularly fond of re- 

 minding individuals (and everyone else within earshot) of their 

 troubles with the police, employers, and other agents of the White 

 world. In this way Shonto's trader capitalizes on his joking relation- 

 ship not only, in his own view, to further liis popularity as "one of the 

 gang" (cf. Underbill, 1956, p. 180) but even more to emphasize his 

 paternal relationship to the community and its inherent status 

 advantage.^" Finally, smce it is legitimate on nearly all occasions, 

 the trader often finds a joking response a convenient device with 

 which to meet Navaho hostility, suspicion, or inconvenient queries or 

 assertions. 



SINCEKITT 



Sincerity in Navaho-trader relations is permitted on all matters 

 except highly personal ones, which are subject to joking only. In 

 idle discourse as well as in actual trading sincerity is an allowable 

 alternative to a joking relationship, although not as highly valued by 

 the trader. A straightforward relationship does not emphasize the 

 superior status of the trader in the same way as does the established 

 joking pattern, and Navahos who do not want to joke are apt to be 

 ridiculed much as are children who are "too serious." The trader 

 may take special pleasure in trying to get a rise out of them in spite 

 of their disinclination to be teased. 



There are some subjects, however, upon which sincerity is the 

 only allowable behavior. These are the areas in which the trader 

 feels it his special duty to teach and guide his Navaho neighbors 

 for their own good. Particularly as regards the sacred ideals of 

 wealth and industriousness, no slightmg allusions or buffoonery are 

 allowed. The superior status of the trader is similarly above prof- 

 anation, and must be respected at all times. 



*<> In this regard It may be significant to note that in his Institutionalized teasing about 

 sex the trader is literally playing the avuncular part in Navaho life. See Kluckhohn and 

 Lelghton, 1946, p. 53. 



