ALTO SOLIMÕES, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. — It is situated in northwestern Brazil, between the southern borders of Colombia and the eastern borders of Peru; to the east it borders the municipality of Fonte Bôa, and to the south the Brazilian territory of Acre. The region is covered by an immense equatorial forest, slightly uneven in places, traversed by numerous broad watercourses, lakes, and lagoons, between 2° 45′–7° 16′ 55″ south latitude and 63° 7′–73° 47′ 45″ west longitude (Greenwich). The climate is hot and humid, conducive to malarial fevers. The apostolic prefecture was erected on 23 May 1910, its territory having been detached from the diocese of the Amazons, or Manaos (Brazil), and entrusted to the Capuchins of the Umbrian province.
The total population amounts (official census of 1939) to 24,000 inhabitants, almost all Indians of Tucana stock and Gyra language, related to Tupy, and almost all Catholics (non-baptized: 1,750). According to the description given by Fr. Fedele da Alviano (early 1934), they comprise 391 families scattered among 208 huts along various rivers.
Ten priests and one Capuchin brother, assisted by five Capuchin tertiary sisters (on mission since 1927, coming from the diocese of Fortaleza, where they were founded in 1904), minister to the three quasi-parishes: S. Paolo de Olivenca (founded in 1759), with the secondary stations of Belém, S. Rita, and Amaturá; Benjamin Constant or Esperança (founded in 1930), with Tabatinga, Remate de Males, Aramassa, and Aruriá; S. Pietro di Villanova di Tonantins (founded in 1934), with S. Antonio de Içá and Tonantins Velho. The sisters are especially responsible for the two schools of S. Paolo and B. Constant. There is a small seminary at S. Paolo, and the foundations of the Catholic Youth Action have been laid in the principal localities.
