afety of the
inhabitants. The permission arrived at a time when conditions seemed to
have improved and the majority of the population was satisfied to remain
where they were. The parish priest, however, had favored and decided
upon removal to a place called Cupey, and Governor Viana approved of
this choice. When the residents began to discuss the problem of the new
location, it was found that the greater number was of the opinion that
the cattle farms known as Santa Clara offered a more convenient site,
and the governor and bishop were won over to this view and agreed. As
head of the town was appointed the Alcalde Manuel Rodriguez de Arziniega
and as its spiritual adviser was chosen the Cura Gonzales. It so
happened that neither of the two favored the place that had been
selected. The Alcalde and his adherents wanted to settle at Sabana
Largo, near the hacienda of Santa Clara. The priest preferred the place
called El Guanal, in the body of that farm. To adjust the difference the
governor and the bishop chose two men, D. Christobal de Fromesta, Cura
and Vicar of Sancti Spiritu, and the Contador D. Diego de Penalver, who
were both residents of that town. It is characteristic of the manner in
which municipal and other public business of importance was then
conducted, that the two men deliberated without result until the year
1689, when the administration of Governor Viana came to an end.

Of Governor Viana's share in furthering the building of fortifications
an inscription in the ravelin of the gate of Tierra bears proof. It
reads:

Reynando La Magestad Catolica De Carlos II. Rey de Las Espanas Y
Siendo Gobernador Y Capitan General De Esta Ciudad E Isla de Cuba
D. Diego Antonio De Viana Hinojosa, Caballero del Orden De
Santiago, Veinte Y Cuatro Perpetuo De La Ciudad de Granada, Y
General De La Artilleria Del Reinado de Sevilla, Se Acabo Esta
Puerta Con Su Puente Levandizo, y Su Media Luna, etc. Ano de 1688.

(In the reign of His Catholic Majesty Charles II. King of Spain,
the resident governor and captain-general of this city and island
of Cuba was D. Diego Antonio de Viana Hinojosa, Cavalier of the
Order of Santiago, the twenty-fourth Perpetuo of the city of
Granada, and the General of Artillery of the ruler of Sevilla, this
gate with its drawbridge and its ravelins was finished. In the year
1688.)

The affair of El Cayo continued to absorb the attention