# 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-031

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Texas with the exeeption that here there are mountains
in the distance and in Tex. there are none. The country
is dotted with a scattered palm tree here and there - or
@ small tree of some kind about the size of a Moskite
which makes it resemble Tex very much. There is no other
timber. The town is a very pretty little place and seems
to be divided into 4 distinct parts. 18% the west part
whieh seeas to be of houses something like Missionaries
would build. Then the business part of the town with
its 2 story houses and no shade trees which makes it
look hot and drye Then comes ard part where. seexs to
be residences with nice trees and makes the place look
quite home-like. Then the 4th seems to be a cluster of
houses with a factory of some kind. As soon as we an=
chored here about a mile from the town a cannon was
fired off end in a short time a colored Dr. came over
end did some bus. with the Captain and some of the men
with the 19t officer went on shore - only about 4 however
ss the rest of us had no inelinations to go - the dis-—
tance in the hot sun seemed too far. After a while the
natives began to get on board with big boxes of tools,
for most of them were workmen who are going to the Congo
to work on the Re Re The number that we were to take on
here was two hundred but I don't think that there were
more than fifty. And sueh monkeyshines as they did eut =
sometimes fighting - they seemed to be afraid of getting
on board without their boxes, being afraid they might
not get on unless each one tied the rope around his own
particular box himself. However after a long time all
were on toard about 5 o'cloek and then we were off again.
We did not have a funeral to day as I thought we should -
but the captain and officers and even the passengers
treated it as a light thing. You ask what? You see at
Las Palmas we took on about 15 bulls and some sheep and
goats in order that we would have meat enough for all
hends - and last night one of the bulls died.

Now we have just hed prayers and efter a little rest
on deck and a pleasant chat in the moonshine I will
retire.

Dec. 25 - Friday

Very atrange indeed it seems to be on board a Steam ship
to spend Xmas. J had never had a of ever spending my
"thirty-fourth" birthday on the Atlantie Ocean. I'm told
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
others were
covered up, head and ears with tarpolians and not a
breath of air for them. It seems the hotter it is the
better they like it. Now good-night.

Dec. 23 - Wednesday
"Old sol" with his radiant glow shining forth on the
placid waters of the Atlantic, not far from the coast of
Africa just where the bend begins to grow larger and go
to the Guld of Guinea, found me on deck enjoying nature
as best I could on the water. I had a good night's rest,
however, and feel very well indeed this morning. The
breakfast bell is now summoning me to breakfast so I
will see what they have in answer to the call. A hearty
breakfast partaken and am now on deck again. There is
nothing much to interest one except act as nearly as
possible, our Christian lives so that those on board
may see that we are Christians and have been with God.
I am now reading for pasttime The Old Curiosity Shop-
Dickens, you know, and I am so wrapped in it that it is
hard to lay it down. It is now after nine o'clock and
we have just had a nice prayer meeting. I am now cooling
off a little before retiring. Good-night.

Dec. 24 - Thursday
Can it be possible that this is the day before Xmas? It
is certainly. I was aroused from my slumbers this a.m.
by someone speaking in French that Acra was in sight. I
can't quote in word but I understood the remark, so up
I got and dressed at once and went out on deck to view
the city. My first glimpse of the country showed me
that this part is a prairie, and reminds me very much of
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
thet when only a baby of a few months I crossed the
Atlantic, and here I am now in the middle of my life

if I should be permitted by the Almighty to live as long
again as I have lived - and on the great Ocean. And to
me the Gulf of Guinea about three degrees north (3°) of
the Equator, and two (2°) degrees east of the Meridian
of Greenwich. It is a bright & beautiful day and every-
thing is very quiet, comparatively, on board. In our
little prayer meeting last night we prayed that the
people on board might be more considerate, and the Lord
heard our prayer for the day passed off very nicely.
Nothing of importencs during the day exeept in the
morning the 18t & 20° uates were working with the native,
whom they were taking down to work on the R. Re They
were divided one lot on each side of the ship & were
counted and instead of veing (200) two hundred, were
(77) seventy-seven. ‘You should have seen the 2°¢ wate
ealling the roll. He is a Gemaen & cannot talk much
English but he called the names in English, in such
broken Eng. that about 1/2 the no. could not understand,
and then he would burst out in ea storm of passionate
words, not sweet. I think he went through this perform-
ance about 4 times, and finally succeeded in getting the
names to correspond to the men. About (7) seven o'elock
Ppem.e @ canon was fired off and a large red blaze was
left on the water which we could see for some distance
after we had passed. After supper I went around to the
sailors department. All Germa
</next_page_context>

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