This one is kinda weird but : Only one person is going to St. Ives (the narrator) everyone else in the rhyme is already in St. Ives
But, If everyone mentioned in the riddle were bound for St Ives, then the number would be 2,802: the narrator, the man and his seven wives, 49 sacks, 343 cats, and 2,401 kits .
But ! It’s only one person .