Christopher Duncan studies the violence in North Maluku that took place between August 1999 and June 2000 in Tobelo (Halmahera), taking into account local perceptions of the conflict, which in many cases pitted Christians against Muslims, and its evolution over time. The essay presents competing chronologies of the North Maluku violence based on accounts from victims and perpetrators and examines how interpretations of these clashes were utilized by local leaders and communities to influence the course of events.