# 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-035

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

<current_page_ocr status="non_authoritative_hypothesis">
The current is about seven miles per hour. It takes
about 8 hours to go from Banana to Boma, and about 3
hours from Boma to Banana. Bro. Armstrong is 0K. this
pew. We have just had our little prayer meeting and
now I am ready to retire. Hal Here comes a little bird
into the salon - it is dark with a head very like a dove
it is white under its wings and where its tail joins its
body but the tip of the tail is very dark. it is web-
footed and seems very quiet in our presence ~ we can
handle it and it is not afraid. When we turn it loose
it goes down into the water and comes up on deck again
to the light - it cannot raise itself to fly from the
deck or ground, but from the water it can do as well as
any ground bird. It is characteristic of all sea birds,
that they cannot fly from the ground. Our friends, the
Belgians are having a glorious time drinking, singing
and playing. It will be almost impossible to go to

sleep, I'm afraid even if I retire now, however, I ama
going to attempt so now good-night.

Dece 29 - Tuesday

After camping all night in the mouth, or near it, of the
Congo, we start up that great stream about 9 o'clock this
@eme On our right as we ascend is land, and now on our
left we can see land which we are making for, for just
around the bend is that place which I have mentioned
before, Banana. In the course of time we come to Banana
but had a terrible time before we stopped. I think we
turned 4 or 5 times around & round before the pilot
decided to enter into the little harbor. Finally we got
in € 12n. and several came on board. I met a Mr. Cotes
one of the Dutch Co. employees. In the afternoon when
it got cooler I went ashore and took a peep at the little
peninsula. It has a great many cocoanut trees and they
are full of nuts. There are a number of good houses but
all very low - they cover a good deal of ground but are
not very high. A nice cool breeze all the time and
especially in the afternoon. Musquitoes are plentiful
little black fellows, akin to the Negro you know. I met
several of the members of the Dutch House. About 9
otcloek this eve we had our little prayer meeting and
then now we retire good night.
</current_page_ocr>

<previous_page_context kind="validated_structured_tail" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
of Jallop. After
the fever was reduced he took 15 grs. of Quinine which
relieved him very much in a short time. Morrison sat
up all night with him and got no sleep except little
snatches which he got in a deck-chair. Bro. Wescott and
myself repaired to my state-room and had a little prayer
meeting by ourselves excep the presence of the Holy
Spirit which we felt sure was in our midst, for you know
the bible says: "Where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there I will be in the midst of them. It
has been very quiet among the passengers all day today-
and we thought it due to our prayers for them. I now
retire and hope we all may have a good night's rest.

Dec. 28 - Monday
Getting up this am, and getting all things ready for
breakfast. I went to the table and found Bro. Armstrong
ready for breakfast and feeling much better. This a.m.
nothing out of the usual line has taken place but it is
now a little after four p.m. and we have had a very
heavy rain. We have been in sight of land but it is
hid from view now on account of the fog, caused by the
rain. We are not nearing Banana a town on the north side
of the Congo River and at its mouth. Just after supper
and we are camped - I should have said anchored - in
the mouth of the river where we will stay until a.m.
where we will touch at the Said Banana which is just
around the bend. You see we have to make the trip to
Boma, the Capitol, in day light, as there is such a
current in the River that we cannot make much headway.
</previous_page_context>

<next_page_context kind="raw_ocr_head" status="continuity_only_non_authoritative">
Dec. 30 - Wednesday

This asm. I got up at 6:50 o'slock and intended going on
shore to pest some letters but it rained fearfully nard
and I did not go. I sent them by one of the men who
attend the P.0. While we were still at Banana there
came a gentleman on board whom I heard speaking in our
own American style and I sought an introduction to him -
and to my very great delight, he was from New York - a
Dr. Lynch ~ missionary of the American Baptist society.
The Baptists have a sanitariwn not far up the river from
Banana on the Portugus side. Its name is Kenveka. It
was really'a treat to talk with an American - and T
introduced to hiw all our boys - us four missionaries
You know, and we had a very pleasant visit. About eleven
o'clock we started and passed one little place on the
Portugus side Lusenga. A very fine house, two story with
a nice veranda dl the way around each storye The house
was square and reminded me of a very large freme Hotel.
About four o'clock p.m. we struek a sand bar in the
middle of the river and here we are now. We are still
stuck at bed time. We have just hed prayers and now I
will retire. But our Belgians are drunk again and
trying to keep every one awake. Good night.

Dec. 31 - Thursday

Sometime during the night we worked off the bar and
anchored a short distance as we cannot travel in the
river at night. About 8 o'clock this aem. we started
and at 11 o'clock we got too Boma. Quite a pretty little
town, partly in the vally & partly on the hill = sever
</next_page_context>

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