st one-third more
of the total number for those that passed during the night,--which
would be a very low estimate of the shipping passing through our
straits.

But few of the vessels passing through the straits leave the main
channel, and go to the island some miles out of the way.

The lake traffic has of late years become perfectly enormous, the
increase of the western navigation being unprecedented. For example,
three thousand and sixty-five steamers passed up from Lake Erie to
Lakes Huron and Superior, by Detroit, in 1859, and three thousand one
hundred and twenty-one passed down. The greatest number up in a single
day was eighty-five--down seventy-three. Detroit statistics show that
five steamers, five propellers, four barques, seven brigs, and
eighty-five schooners have been more or less engaged in the Lake
Superior trade during the past season. Forty vessels left during the
season for European and seaboard ports, some of which have returned,
and one has taken her second departure. Navigation at Detroit opened
March 14th, and closed December 15th.

William Johnston, Esq., who has long resided on the island, says: 'The
Indians, from the earliest times, have always regarded the Island of
Mackinaw with veneration. The Indian name is 'Moc-che-ne-mock-e-nug-gonge,'
which, as before stated, signifies Island of Great or Giant Fairies.

"Indian mythology relates that three brothers of great or giant
Fairies, occupied different Islands in this section of the country.
The eldest occupied the Island Missilimackinac, the second lived on
the Island Tim-au Rin-ange-onge, in Lake Michigan, now called
Pottawattime Island, the youngest inhabited an Island called
Pe-quoge-me-nis, in Lake Huron. The heathen Indians, to this day, look
upon them with awe and veneration, and in passing to and fro, by their
shores, still offer to the Great Spirits tobacco and other offerings,
to propitiate their goodwill. The stories they relate of these Great
Fairies, are very interesting and worthy of record.

"The present southern gate of Fort Mackinac overlooks the spot, where
in olden times a door existed, to the entrance of the subterraneous
abode of these Giant Fairies. An Indian Chees-a-kee, or spiritualist,
who once encamped within the limits of the present garrison, related,
that some time during the night, after he had fallen asleep, a fairy
touched him and beckoned him to follow. He obeyed and his spirit went
with the fairy; they enter