# 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-079

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
rest of us repaired to a little hole deep down in a
ravine where there was water. This hole or pool is not
very far from the site of the missions - we had a prayer
& sung some hyans &e. No house or tent for the applicant
to change his clothing nor Mr. B. either but the ravine
was deep, and the people standing off a short distanee,
say 15 feet - he eould stand under the bank & change his
apparel in perfect deceney and propriety. This is the
first one who has been baptised in the town of Tumba. In
the pem. Mr. Morgan held the service and at night Mr.
Hill at the C.B.M. He read a lecture which someone gave
at some convetion in Canada. I did not feel very well
all day ~- this is the first day that I have not felt well
I'm not sick, but dumpy.

Monday, Mar. 22 - 97

Feeling better thanks to Our God who rulety all things.
Have been doing various things repacked & marked a box
for Mr. G. D. Ademson and had it ready to go with Mrs.
Bently to Europe to Mr. Whyte in Lendon then to re
until he called for it. About 43 pom. Mr. B. took it to
the station and put it with his baggage. We were all

at the B.M.S. to see Mr. & Mrs. B.fore they went away,
for Mr. B. was going with her as far as Matadi, where he
would remain several days - we were leoking for the train
in but it did not appear.

Tuesday - Mar. 23 ~ 97

Early this a.m. about 4 o'clock I heard a rapping at my
door & Mr. Penock called for I had told him to wake me
up so I could see them off next a.m. The train has to
leave promptly at 5:30 so I got up & went over to.
B.M.S. & had a cup of tea with them and at 5 we all went
to the station & there we had to remain until 6 b.4. the
train left. I put in the day at various things ~ as
the same thing hardly ever continues all daye

Wednesday ~ 24 -~ Mar. 97

This day came news from Bros Phipps. He arrived in S.
Pool on the 17th ~ 12 days after his departure from here,
& the bearer of his message was a boy of the mission who
went off with him. He arrived o.k. but was detained 3
days on his journey on account of the health of the capeta's
two wives 2 day & one day by rain. He found morrison
better he had been sick for several days, but that day
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
m exceedingly well. I
have much to thank God for. He has been kinder to me
than He has with some others. I never fail to thank him
for what he has done for me and many other poor sinners.
I hope His favor may always be with me and keep watchful
care over me. Amen.

Began the day as usual 1st in prayer & adoration to Our
Kind Heavenly parent - then looking after the fowls goats
&c then seeing that the boys had work. Had the grounds
swept off nicely, and all preparations made ready for
Sunday. I went to see Mr. & Mrs. Hill in the p.m. &
while there a caravan of about 2000 carriers came in
followed up by one of the state officers. The chiefs of
some of the villages had been tied up for months some of
them. The state treats them cruelly, but I think prob--
ably it is the Hand of God ruling in a misterious way,
for they are much more submissive now than they were
heretofore & previous to this only a few cared to listen
at what a man had to say, but now they have been treated
so roughly by men of the state they have begun to reason,
and being forced to carry fot the state, they are more
ready to carry for the missionary, and they are more
ready to hear what he has to say and really seek after
it. Nothing of importance the remainder of the day so I
will say good-night.

A lovely a.m. Everything being arranged, service was
held ½ an hour b.4 time - that is 9:30 - on account of
the baptism of a boy about 17 yrs. old. Mr. Bentley
preached the sermon & after it was over he, with all the
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
was ups I suppose they are now on their way up the
Kassai. The Wescott Bro's arrived safe at the pool
also. A caravan came in and I paid it off and gave it
more loads.

Thursday Mar. 25 ~ 97

Early this a.m. a caravan came in & wanted loads so I
went with them and delivered théir loads ~ large boxes
ab lds each ~ it took two men to carry each box (My
caravan yesterday was of the same kind.) I was feeling
very badly for I woke this a.m. with something like a
dumb chill. I got up took a bog does of Quinine but
did not help me much. While I was at the store a note
came for me to call & see Mr. D'Angremond, my Duteh
friend who was very sick with fever. I went down as
soon as I could & administered unto him the medicine
needed and came back at noon. I went down again to see
him & dined there & the bookkeeper said we have the Dr.
of the state employed & give him 3 b per month, & yet

we call on you when we are ill at one oclock I went
into his room & he was perspiring freely but very hot
with fever ' waited on him a 4 an hour or so and was
going to give him an aenema they sent to the Dr. for the
syringe & said the Mr. D' had fever & the Dr. came too.
You see we all came out on the seme ship together Dr.
Dinieh, Mr. D. & myself so we are all friends. He told
the Dr. what he had done & the Dr. said "bon" - good - &
after a little conversation he left. I was feeling
dreadfully bad all this time, so I went home & went to
bed. JI had taken the necessary medicines & about 4 pom.
I began
</next_page_context>

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