to 8 A.M.

_Signs: Fresh Wheelmarks._ [Fresh because the tracks were
clearly defined with sharp edges in the sand; they overrode
all other tracks.]

[This must mean a "rickshaw" (hand-carriage) had passed
this morning--no other carriages are used at this
station.]

_Going Forward._ [Because there are tracks of bare feet,
some ridden over, others overriding the wheel track, but
always keeping along it, _i.e._ two men pulling in front,
two pushing behind.]

[Had they been independent wayfarers they would have
walked on the smooth, beaten part of the road.]

_The men were going at a walk._ (Because the impression of
the fore part of the foot is no deeper than that of the
heel, and the length of pace not long enough for running.)

_One man wore shoes_, the remaining three were barefooted.

_One wheel was a little wobbly._

_Deduction_

_The track was that of a rickshaw conveying an invalid in
comparatively humble circumstances, for a constitutional._

Because it went at a slow pace, along a circular road which led
nowhere in particular (it had passed the cemetery and the
only house along that road), at an early hour of the
morning, the rickshaw being in a groggy state and the men
not uniformly dressed.

NOTE.--This deduction proved correct. On returning from my walk
I struck the same track (_i.e._ the wobbly wheel and the one shod
man) on another road, going ahead of me. I soon overtook them,
and found an old invalid lady being driven in a hired bazaar
rickshaw.

While following the tracks of the rickshaw, I noticed fresh
tracks of two horses coming towards me, followed by a big dog.

_They had passed since the rickshaw_ (overriding its tracks).

_They were cantering_ (two single hoof-prints, and then two near
together).

_A quarter of a mile farther on they were walking_ for a quarter
of a mile. (Hoof-prints in pairs a yard apart.) Here the dog
dropped behind, and had to make up lost ground by galloping
up to them. (Deep impression of his claws, and dirt kicked
up.)

_They had finished the walk about a quarter of an hour_ before I
came there. (Because the horse's droppings at this point
were quite fresh; cover