# 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, and separators. 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.

## 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.
- `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-054

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
with walks of stone all around. After looking through
some of the houses we went down to the cemetery about $
mile farther down a great big hill and across a little
creek. It was there a captain of a ship had been burried
and several missionaries, some little children and our
Dearly beloved brother S. N. Lapsley. The slabs are
there that mark the graves but the place is very rocky
and it is very hard to keep it well and especially when
no one takes a very grat interest in it. But there is
nothing foul but grass over the yard. To go into the
little cemetery away out here in Africa where only a
few good men are burried, men who gave up their lives
in the service of the Lord, it makes my heart feel sad.
Yet when I think of the glorious reward they will have
a part in the first resurrection, I want to do more and
more but I am a poor frail being and can do nothing
except God gives me the strength. We got back again to
Londe about 6330 o'clock and had breakfast, then I rec'd
a note to go to the telephone at Matedi and when I got
up there the thing would not work. I know that Morrison
or Phipps wanted to talk with me from Tumba. I then
went to find Mr. Denier of the R.R. Co. to talk with
him about some freight but failed to find him. I saw
Mr. D'Angremond and he said he was coming to Londe Sun-
day to see me.

After dinner, or rather late in the p.m. about 5 o'clock
Mr. Lemke and I went out hunting and we were in a boat.
We saw some Eagles and Lemke shot 7 or 8 times and killed
one it was a good shot too. I shot twice and killed one.
I killed him on the wing. He was about 5 feet from tip
to tip of hie wings. I made my rep. Lemke thinks I'm
an old hunter but he is mistaken for I went hunting but
very few times in my life. The boys that went with us
had a good chop with the two Eagles.

Sunday, Jan. 24 ~ 1897

After a refreshing nights sleep I arose feeling quite
well. After our usual a.m. prayers before we leave the
breakfast table I went to my room and read. After
dinner 1 wrote a litter and while I was writing Messrs.
Ross & Bretschneider came over to see me and we all had
a pleasant visit. We wanted them to stay for tea but
they could not. I finished my letter after supper.
Good night.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
er supper I read awhile
and went to bed.

Thursday, Jan. 21 - 1897
This a.m. I looked after all the letters and correspond-
ances of A.P.C.M. at Londay - and found replies to some
letters in French.  In the p.m. I went up to Fukufuku
and met Mr. D. Angremond, and when it was cooler, he
came home with me but only stayed a short while.  After
supper I went over to N'KalaKala and found my patient
Mr. Frank entirely well.  I came back about 10 O'clock
and retired for the night.

Friday, Jan. 22 - 1897
As the boat was going across the river this a.m. with
some carriers for NGangila I went over and stayed with
Mr. Bretschnieder of the Eng. House - Chaunsy - until
after chop.  Had rost Duck, fish, native beans, plums,
rich cafe &c.  About 3 p.m. the boat came over after an-
other caravan, and I came back to Londe.  I read french
until bed time &c.  Good night.

Saturday, Jan. 23 - 1897
About 5 o'clock this a.m. the alarm sounded and Messrs.
Lemke, Lagerin, and myself, together with the boat boys
went down to underhill & as we were going down in the
boat In some trees on the bank I espied 2 monkeys.  we
had no gun, and we were not close enough to shoot if
we had.  When we came to the landing at Underhill, we
went up a very long hill at least a half mile on solid
pavement - a road mady by the mission.  Arriving at the
top we came to several houses and the whole place looked
like a real neat little town.  In the garden were flowers-
oranges, limes, bananas, plantains, &c.  Good houses-
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Monday, Jan 25 - 1897

About nine eclock this aem., the long looked for Thekla
Bohlen came up. I got in the boat. with Mr. Ross &
Bretschneider and went up to the ship. I looked over
the list ef packages that was on ite I saw that my
missing fox 265 was among the lot. J met on the ship
Bros. Clippingdale, Harvey and Adsmis. The last mentioned
bro. is just down from Stanley Pool where he has been
for three years with Dr. Sims. He is now on his way
heme, to Americas We had a rain this pem. and the grass
was so wet that I did not want to walk so I mentioned it
to the mate & he sent his steam jatcn to take me down to
the mission. I just came in while the boys were eating
supper. Good night. I guess I will be able now in a
few days to go to Tumba.

Tuesday, Jan. 26 - 1897

Stayed at Londe until Noon. After dinner went to N Kale-
Kala and found Mr. Frank and his boys eating dinner. I
was compelled to sit down and eat a bite. I went into
the sitting room, and while Mr. F. took a little nap, I
got the French dictionary and translated a French lettre
rec'd from Le Governor Ginerale. I then went with Mr.
Ross to Matadi and stopped on the ship to look after my
cargo, but the particular boxes had not been found yet
so I will have to be patient a few days longer. I came
down with Mr. R. again and he landed me at Londe. After
supper and prayers I exhibited my photoes to Messrs.
Lagerin, Lemke and M°Kenny, who admired them very much.
I made them wish they. had bro't theirs. Good night and
m
</next_page_context>

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