104 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
in sliape or execution, answer exceedingly well the pur¬ 
pose for which they were erected. 
This immense building was opened for divine service on 
the 11th of May, 1819, when the encampment of the mul¬ 
titudes assembled stretched along the sea-beach, on both 
sides of the chapel, to the extent of four miles. On this 
occasion, three distinct sermons, from different texts, 
were preached at the same time, to three distinct con¬ 
gregations. Each audience, consisted of upwards of 
two thousand hearers, assembled round the respective 
pulpits within the same building. The king and prin¬ 
cipal chiefs appeared at the east, which, contrary to the 
order observed in their antipodes, is considered the court 
end. The whole number of hearers, according to the 
nearest calculation, was about seven thousand; and, not¬ 
withstanding this number assembled, a space remained 
between the different congregations. 
I have occasionally preached in the Royal Mission 
chapel, but never when any other person besides was 
engaged; consequently, I cannot say what effect is 
produced on the ear by the delivery of more than one 
discourse at the same time. In the account the Mission¬ 
aries give of its opening, they say, the pulpits being at 
so great a distance from each other, no confusion ensued 
from the speakers preaching at once in the same house. 
To an individual who could have stood at one end of the 
building, a little above the assembly, and directed his 
glance to the other—the three pulpits and preachers— 
the seven thousand hearers assembled around in all 
the variety, and form, and colour of their different cos¬ 
tume—must have presented an imposing and interest¬ 
ing spectacle. 
Although divested of every thing like stateliness or 
