The Time Machine: Novel Summary: Chapter Four

During his first day in the year 802,701, the Time Traveler meets more of the small, childlike surface dwellers, which will later be referred to as the Eloi.  His explorations lead him to discoveries such as a slight movement in the flow of the Thames River. He also notes the lack of individual houses and families and begins to make hypotheses on how society has changed over the past eight hundred thousand years.  He accounts the poor upkeep of the magnificent buildings and structures to a possible population growth control plan that worked all to well and actually created a decrease in population.  It is important to note that the Time Traveler hints to us that these theories are not true at all as he says, "Very simple was my explanation, and plausible enough - as most wrong theories are!"