# 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-264

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
Mr. M°G & myself went eut $ an heur away te semeBateki
tewns - the people are very shy, and it is almest im-
pessible te get near the children. They are squatted
in patriarchal style - small hamlets of families - enly
the daughters leaving the community when they marry.

We returned just before dark ~ came threugh grass fire
en our return. I ferget te mentien that an S.A.B.
steamer, President Brackman stepped here this a.m. ane
we were all late fer breakfast. I sent a letter te
Sephie by it.

"Tchimberi" Menday June 26 ~ 99

Mr. Clark administrater ef Mrs. Glenesk's furniture &c
& I bought an eld recker, a maderia basket, & a little
umbrella & hat rack. After dinner the Pioneer. started
for B.O. abeut 11 e'cleck this a.m. the Haineut came up
and I sold the Capt. 2 baskets ef onions. I rec'd 6
fathams ef cleth per basket. The Haineut knocked a
little hele in her bettom & had te wait all night at
sandy beach ~ a state weeding - we passed her and slept
about 4 hours below B.O. I went out Hippe hunting but
did net get a shet. I could hear them come up & snarl
but ceuld net see them. Geod night.

“Pieneer" Gesday June 27 - 99

We arrived at B.O. about 10 e'cleck this a.m. Mr. M°G
& I had dinner at Mr. James Clark's and Miss Lena & Mr.
Clark had dinner at Mr. Hewell's - we went te werk and
get the Pieneer on the slip but she began te sag and we
put her im the water to let her remain until merning.
Mr. M°G and I had supper with Mr. Howell - Mr. Clark &
I sleep in Mr. Scrivener's bed tonight. Geeod~-night.

"Belebe" (B.O.) Wednesday June 28 ~ 99

Went te werk early this a.m. te get the Pieneer en the
slip get her on nicely befere breakfast. I have been
deing what little I ceuld to help aleng. In the after-
neen just befere sunset we had a game of cerquet. Mr.
MSG & I are chepping with Mr. & Mrs. Hewell. I fixed
my misquite net on a bed in Mr. Scrivener's reem &
sleep there.

*B.O." Thursday June 29 ~ 99

teday I marked eff and painted a white stripe areund
the beat - saw about 100 women making the path aleng
the telegraph line clean. What a sheut & cenflab they
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
23 - 99
It rained during the night - our onions got wet - the
rain continued during the early part of the day. About
10 o'clock a.m. we stopped at a town Nkunda where Mr.
MᶜG. bought a large Canoe on his voyage up, a few fowls
& some Hippo tusks were bought there. We came down
the river and just before reaching the town where we
intended to stop, we ran aground, but soon got off &
all was right. Mosquitoes there but not so numerous
good-night

"Pioneer" Saturday June 24 - 99
Up and away early this a.m. We ran down & got to Bolebo
where we met Mr. Grenfell - on the bank waiting for us -
Mr. Howell & Mrs Clark came down later - it was 7:30.
Mr. Clark & Lina had breakfast with Mr. & Mrs. Clark
of Bolebo. Mr. MᶜG. & I had breakfast with Mr. & Mrs.
Howell. The peace was put into the river, having just
had new engines. The Goodwill will be put on the slip
this p.m. The peace made a trial. we left shortly
after she did & we saw her go safely into shore - so I
suppose her engines were o.k. We arrived at Tchinberi
at 4:30 p.m. We were met by Mr. & Mrs. Christopher &
Mr. Banks The Reed had been to the Pool & brought up
150 loads and will stay here until the 4ᵗʰ of July when
she will return to the Pool for the C.B.M. Passengers
who are now on their way out. Mr. & Mrs. Christopher
are very hospitable.

"Tchimberi" Sunday June 25th 99
Went to church in the new chapel. Mr. Christopher
preached. Mrs. C. played the organ - quite a goodly
number in church. After dinner Mr. Christ's, Mr. Banks
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
were having! Nething of interest I gave Mr. Hewell my

petatees & a basket ef eniens. I alse gave Mr. Grenfell
a basket of eoniens.

*B.0.° Friday June 30 - 99
a little work en Pieneer - M°G net very well - but at

work - ene ef his beys sick with fever I dectered him
Nothing else of interest.

“B.0." Saturday July 18t 99

I assisted a little on the steamer this a.m. about 11
e'cleck the Dutch Heuse Steamer "Brazzaville" came in -
I went dewn & found 2 men I knew ~- they teek seme weed
from Mr. Grenfell's woeding where his men had keen cut-
ting and some little palaver arese - but was settled
ooke later eon in the day the palaver was opened again -
the 2" capt. is a drinking kind ef a fellew and has tee
much te say Mr. G. & I went dewn & leoked over the
steamer it is very nice but reughly put tegether. I
wrete a letter te Sephie. Mr. Clark wrete a note &

put inside it is doubtful whether she will get it or
net but I ceuld not resist writing when an eppertunity
presented. I teck it te the capt. & he premised to
deliver it at Irebeou. I get back to my room at about

# past ten e'cleck at night. I came by Mr. Grenfells
and he walked to the tep ef the hill with me. Geed-night.

B.O. Sunday July 294 1899

I slept late this a.m. I went te breakfast. Mr. w°G
did net ceme ~ his was sent to him I went te see how

he was & found him better. I came back & saw Mr.
Grenfell & Miss Lina. I them came back te the heuse &
wrete in the jeurnal Mr. M°G Miss Lina & Mr. Clark
came in and we all
</next_page_context>

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