diff --git a/example/Jamfile.v2 b/example/Jamfile.v2
index fcd6618b..841b4b86 100644
--- a/example/Jamfile.v2
+++ b/example/Jamfile.v2
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-
+# This is the Jamfile for Boost.Build v2, which is currently in
+# prerelease.  Ignore this file unless you are a bleading edge sort of
+# person.
 use-project /boost/python : ../build ;
 
 project
diff --git a/example/Jamrules b/example/Jamrules
index 9819a6e3..f0ebb3bf 100755
--- a/example/Jamrules
+++ b/example/Jamrules
@@ -1,7 +1,29 @@
 # Copyright David Abrahams 2003. See accompanying LICENSE for terms
 # and conditions of use.
 
-# Edit this path to point at the root directory of your Boost
-# installation.  Absolute paths work, too.
+# If you move this example from its place in the Boost tree, edit this
+# path to point at the root directory of your Boost installation (the
+# one containing a subdirectory called "boost/" and a sub-subdirectory
+# "boost/python/" that contains .hpp files.  Absolute paths work, too.
 path-global BOOST_ROOT : ../../.. ;
+
+# Boost.Python configuration variables, as described in
+# http://www.boost.org/libs/python/doc/building.html.  Usually you
+# don't need to set these; the defaults will work.  If you do set
+# them, try to change as few of them as possible, starting with the
+# first ones.
+
+  # PYTHON_VERSION = <the two-part Major.Minor version number, e.g. 2.2> ;
+  # PYTHON_ROOT = <path to root directory of your Python installation> ;
+  # PYTHON_INCLUDES = <path to Python #include directories> ;
+  # PYTHON_LIB_PATH = <path to Python library object> ;
+
+# You may need to configure your compiler toolset, especially if you
+# want to build with a compiler that is not the "system default" or if
+# it is installed in a nonstandard place; see
+# http://www.boost.org/more/getting_started.html#Configuring for
+# details.  
+
+# Makes a project id for boost so that other Boost.Build projects can
+# refer to it by name.
 project boost : $(BOOST_ROOT) ;
diff --git a/example/README b/example/README
index ab22de54..97fdbc38 100644
--- a/example/README
+++ b/example/README
@@ -4,3 +4,16 @@ getting_started1.cpp and getting_started2.cpp.
     bjam -sTOOLS=your-toolset test
 
 in this directory will build and run the examples.
+
+Other configuration variables may need to be set as described in
+http://www.boost.org/libs/python/doc/building.html.  These can be
+supplied by the environment, on the command-line with
+
+  -sVARIABLENAME=value
+
+or in the local Jamrules file.
+
+If you move this example from its place in the Boost development tree
+you'll need to edit at least one line in Jamrules and one line in
+boost-build.jam.
+