# Crowley diary faithful page transcription specification

You are transcribing one scanned physical page from a photocopy of a typewritten
transcription of J. S. Crowley's historical diaries. Produce PASS 1 only:
faithful transcription and document structure.

## Authority and scope

1. The attached current-page image is authoritative.
2. Current-page OCR is a fallible hypothesis. Correct OCR by consulting the image.
3. Neighbor context is only for detecting continuity. It must never supply text
   that is not visibly present on the current page.
4. Transcribe each visible source character as faithfully as the image allows.
   Preserve source spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, factual errors,
   incorrect dates, archaic or offensive terminology, and historical place names.
5. Do not improve, modernize, sanitize, silently correct, or complete the source.
6. Do not transcribe scan noise, binder holes, shadows, or page damage as text.
7. If no defensible reading is visible, use an `illegible` node. Never guess merely
   to avoid an uncertainty.

## Semantic structure first

Logical document blocks are the primary structure. Identify ordered headings,
standalone text, diary entries, letters, lists, tables/ledgers, annotations, gap
notices, separators, and non-textual graphical features. A diary entry or letter owns ordered semantic content
parts. Physical source lines are nested inside those blocks or parts only to
preserve diplomatic lineation, hyphenation, and evidence. Do not treat each
physical line as an independent document block.

Use a table only where columns or cell relationships are visibly meaningful. Use
a list for sequential items without a reliable column relationship. Do not infer
numeric values or repair arithmetic.

## Graphical and non-textual source features

A handwritten drawing, doodle, diagram, symbol, or other non-textual feature
that cannot meaningfully be transcribed as text must use a
`graphical_feature` block. Do not invent words for it. Record its medium,
placement, neutral observational description, page-image region when reasonably
identifiable, and related nearby block IDs when the relationship is visible.
Keep both continuation declarations `no`; graphical marks are not textual
cross-page continuations. A label that is itself readable text remains an
annotation block or part, with a related graphical-feature block for the
non-textual strokes. Descriptions must be observational, such as “Small
handwritten mark beneath the diary entry,” never speculative historical
interpretation. If a reliable bounding box cannot be supplied, use `region:
null`; do not guess coordinates.

## Physical source lines

Transcribe every visible physical text line in order. Divide each line into inline
segments only where an intervention or uncertainty requires it. Do not preserve
indentation with runs of spaces; semantic blocks, table cells, and list labels
represent layout.

For `line_end`:

- `block_end`: the logical text represented by this line collection ends here.
- `no_hyphen`: the text continues on another visible source line with no printed
  terminal hyphen; a reading renderer should join with a space.
- `hyphen_word_break`: a printed terminal hyphen exists only because a word wraps;
  omit the hyphen when joining the reading text.
- `hyphen_lexical`: a printed terminal hyphen is intentional and remains when the
  reading text is joined.
- `hyphen_uncertain`: a printed terminal hyphen is visible but its function cannot
  be determined confidently.

Do not put the terminal source hyphen itself inside the preceding text segment
when using one of the three hyphen line-end values.

Use a hyphen line-end value only when a terminal hyphen is visibly printed. Do
not add a line-end hyphen merely because a sentence, list item, or phrase
continues on the next physical line. Preserve internal source hyphens such as
`nice-pleasant` even when they appear unconventional.

## Inline distinctions

- `text`: clearly visible source text.
- `unclear`: a visible but uncertain reading. Give the best reading when possible
  and list genuinely plausible alternatives.
- `illegible`: text is present but no defensible reading can be supplied.
- `addition`: visibly added text, recording whether it is handwritten or
  typewritten and its placement.
- `deletion`: visibly cancelled text. Preserve a reading when still legible; do
  not include it in ordinary reading text. If the cancellation is visible but
  its underlying text is not defensibly readable, keep `type: deletion`, use a
  null reading, no invented alternatives, and `confidence: unreadable`.
- `correction`: an original and replacement are visibly related. Preserve both;
  do not decide that the replacement is historically true.

Confidence vocabulary:

- `high`: plainly legible with no plausible competing reading.
- `medium`: the proposed reading is likely, with a minor visual ambiguity.
- `low`: multiple readings remain plausible.
- `unreadable`: no defensible reading can be supplied.

Never invent decimal confidence scores.

## Dates and editorial interpretation

`date_source` is a literal faithful transcription of the visible heading.
`date_normalized` is separate editorial metadata:

- `normalized`: the visible date is unambiguous and only mechanical expansion or
  ISO formatting is needed.
- `inferred`: the normalized date intentionally differs from the visible source;
  supply a concise reason and qualitative confidence.
- `ambiguous`: competing normalized dates remain plausible; leave the normalized
  value null.
- `invalid`: the visible date is invalid and no responsible inference is made;
  leave the normalized value null.
- `not_normalized`: no normalization was attempted; all normalization metadata is
  null.

For both `normalized` and `inferred`, `date_normalized`,
`normalization_confidence`, and a non-empty `normalization_reason` are mandatory.
For `inferred`, the reason must state the visible conflict. If a year visibly
printed in an image conflicts with a historically plausible chronology, preserve
the printed year in `date_source` and the physical line. Put any chronology-based
alternative only in `date_normalized` with status `inferred`. Never copy an
inferred year back into faithful text.

Never alter the faithful line text to match the normalized date. Use editorial
notes for visible source mistakes, continuity questions, or consequential layout
ambiguity. Do not perform person/place identity resolution or any other PASS 2
historical interpretation.

For a `gap_notice`, represent each available range endpoint with the same complete
date object used by diary entries: `start_date` and `end_date`. Either endpoint may
be null only when it is genuinely unavailable. If the source gives `Nov. 28.` and
the year can responsibly be supplied from the range context, preserve
`date_source: "Nov. 28."`, put the year-bearing ISO value only in
`date_normalized`, use `normalization_status: "inferred"`, and explain the year
inference. Never label a context-supplied year as merely `normalized`.

## PoC regression rules and examples

- **Literal source date:** Never substitute a historically plausible date for
  the characters visible in a heading. Faithful line text and `date_source` must
  agree with the image. Any responsible alternative belongs only in separate
  `inferred` normalization metadata.
- **Intentional internal hyphen:** Preserve a visible form such as
  `nice-pleasant` exactly. It is not a line-break artifact and must not become
  `nice pleasant` or `nicepleasant`.
- **Incomplete-looking material without survival continuity:** A sentence or
  letter that looks incomplete does not automatically continue. If the next
  surviving page does not carry it forward, do not assert `to_next: "yes"` or
  duplicate an imagined continuation. Use `uncertain` only when the boundary
  evidence itself is genuinely unresolved and explain it in an editorial note.
- **Low-confidence handwriting:** When handwriting plausibly reads `Luebo` or
  `Lukbo`, use an `unclear` segment with low confidence and both alternatives (or
  a cautious best reading plus the competing alternative). Do not promote one to
  high-confidence text. If neither is defensible, use `illegible`.
- **Cross-page cancellation is not logical continuation:** A deletion stroke or
  cancellation region may continue onto the next page even when the underlying
  dated diary entry ends on the current page. Encode the deleted text within the
  closed entry and leave the entry's `to_next` as `no`; describe the continuing
  cancellation region in an editorial note rather than linking unrelated entries.
- **Small visible marks:** Preserve ditto marks, fractions such as `1/2` or `¼`,
  superscripts, punctuation, inserted characters, abbreviated notation, ticks,
  dashes, unusual ledger marks, and other meaningful small marks. Do not expand
  ditto marks, decimalize fractions, or silently omit marks merely because OCR
  missed them.

## Page boundaries and continuity

Set page-level boundary flags from visible evidence and limited neighbor context.
Each logical block separately declares whether it continues from the previous
page or to the next page. Independent page generation cannot know the future
block ID, so `continuation.previous` and `continuation.next` must always be null.
The deterministic reconciliation step will create reciprocal links only after
both adjacent pages have been processed. Never copy neighbor text onto this page.

## Mechanical output rules

- Return one JSON object matching the supplied schema and nothing else.
- Use the current page ID in every ID: blocks `pNNN-b001`, `pNNN-b002`, and so on;
  nested parts `pNNN-b001-p001`; notes `pNNN-n001`.
- Orders and source line numbers begin at 1 and are contiguous in visual order.
- For all block and part evidence objects, output exactly:
  `{"status":"not_attempted","method":null,"ocr_word_ids":[],"bbox":null,"matched_tokens":0,"total_tokens":0}`.
- Set editorial-note responsibility to `model`.
- A genuinely blank page has `page_role: "blank"`, no blocks, both boundary flags
  `no`, and no invented separator text.

## Run-specific evidence

CURRENT SOURCE PAGE: page-260

The attached image is the sole authority for text physically present on this page.

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
having gone dewn the threats ef M°Greger - Frest, Ellis,
Mergan, & myself. After tea the 5 of us get en beard
the launch and had an heur's ride she runs quite nicely.
After supper & prayers Mr. Frest & I had a little chat
played a game Lude & Teok eut Morgan's sewing machine -
but we had ne screw driver & could net fix it - the
Pieneer will leave temorrew neen & I shall see my wife
soen D.V.

“Beuginda” Wednesday June 14 - 99

This asm. I made all my preparations fer departure. I
finished a napkin ring & gave it te Mr. Mergan - a beavu-
tiful Ivery ring At neen + or rather just after dinner
the whistle blew and we theught we were ready te start,
but seme ef the men had absconded - and it was about 2
pem. before we left and with three ef the crew shert
We, with Mr. Frest en beard - whe is en his way te Lu-
langa arrived there about 6:30 pem. met Mr. Whitesides
& Mr. Stanard we had supper &c. We, M°G & I slept on
the beat.

“Pioneer” Thursday June 15 - 99

Arese early te put off & found several mere of the crew
had run away - 2 very important enes - an Engineer &
steersman. We arrived at Quiquilville - at 11 a.m. I
had a leek areund the station saw a canon = nice
buildings &c. I saw an albine-much diseased. Yellew
hair - Negre features - white skin - was told she had a
husband ef same nature. Arrived at Belingi 12 n. Dr.
Dye & wife & Faris were well - did not invite us te
Dinner - gave us plenty oranges & bananas - took on
seme goats fer she -

Pieneer Friday June 16-99

Camped last night at a weeding 2 hours akeve Irebau
Misquitees numureus & very hungry - they got inside my
net but did net much damage - Woke me up ocassienally
Mr. M°Gregor had ne bar - & could net sleep. Mesquitoes
were areund in great swarms. Mr. M°G had te sit up all
night & fight Mosquitoes. We left about 6 this a.m.
and arrived at Irebeu at & - stopped there awhile gave
the Commissaire seme oranges & mangees get seme woed &
quanga from him and started for the lake where I was te
meet Sephie Abeut 3 o'cleck we arrived and I feund my
dear wife well - & much impreved for her stay with
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
ed the organ.
Mr. MᶜGregor led the service & read an extract from the
"Spirit in Missions" I closed in prayer.

Bouginda Monday June 12 - 99
This a.m. I was up rather early to see what I might do
in order to assist in getting away tomorrow but later
on in the day I learned that we would not go until
Wednesday Morning I worked on a napkin ring which I
intend to give to Morgan. In the p.m. I varnished the
new drawers in MᶜGregor's Cabin - putting on 2 coats.
Nothing of importance transpired. I am longing to see
Sophie I had hoped to be with her tomorrow - but am dis--
appointed. But I live in her love. Absence does not
lend enchant to the view. I had rather see her and be
with her than be away and only think but Gods will be
done. I have been reading the life of Henry Martin miss.
to India & Persia.

"Bouginda" Tuesday June 13 - 99
I put another coat of varnish on the drawers this morning
& while I was at work, MᶜG said I might paint or rather
varnish the whole cabin - so I went to work. About 10
o'clock I stopped & went to the house to make doughnuts.
I had to hunt up everything. I went to Mrs. Armstrong
& got 2 eggs. I wanted more but she only had 3. I got
everything ready - gave the grease to Kiazi & by the
time I had the dough ready he had the grease ready. My
rolling-pin was a long tumbler shaped mug - my cutter
was a tumbler & small egg cup. The doughnuts did fairly
well. I had 26. I sent 5 to Mrs. Armstrong - she sent
compliments. At tea the remaining 19 were demolished-
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Mr. M°G & I are beth welcome
because 1 have a wife here & he has a sweet heart. A
geed supper & Sephie & I went te eur own apartment &
talked until late in the night. We will prebably leave
again fer the Peel en Menday morning. Mr. Clark seme
time ago, just after I left caught the leopard that I
have previously mentioned as helping him set a trap for
him. An enormous big fellow - he has the hide curing new

“Ikeke" Saturday June 17 - 99

Went around with Mr. Olark a little and bought seme
knives ~ pieces of ivery & ether little things I om
buying some soap & enions from Mrs. Clark ~ and will

try and sell seme mere for her ~ we had theught of going
to. Bekore today with the steamer a state place acress
the lake - but Mr. H°G has agreed to stay a day lenger
& we hepe te go ever Menday - & leave for the Peel on
Tuesday. Sephie made some deughnuts teday & made ene

in the shape ef a nice little dell & wrete a little
peetry about it - and gave it to Mr. Merrey whe pretends
that he dees not like te be teased abeut young ladies -
but secretely he dees — he enjoyed it very much ~- this
Poem. I played croquet - & after supper I played Bag-a-tel

"Ikeke" Sunday June 18 ~ 99Teday after our morning prayer
&c I went to the service ~ a large cengregatien - Men
wenen & children seme clethed and in their right minds
and ethers with such a small smount ef cevering that it
would be hard te tell whether they had any clethes on er
net - at night there was a service and after
</next_page_context>

Return only the JSON object required by the supplied output schema.
