The Chinese in Brunei : From Ceramics to Oil Rent Boni (as Boni 渤 泥 ) is first mentioned in Chinese sources at the end of the 9th century AD. The oldest (1264) Muslim tomb of Brunei is that of a Chinese, Master Pu. During the 14th-16th centuries, the Muslim Chinese were numerous enough in Kota Batu to have their own mosque. The Spanish attack of 1578 did not reduce their presence : in addition to the China trade, they developed pepper culture and shipbuilding until the end of the 18th century. But due to the continuous decline of Brunei during the 19th century, the Chinese community could have disappeared if oil had not been found in Seria in 1929. The number of Chinese thus first increased up to represent 26% of the population in 1960, then decreased due to stricter immigration laws. It stabilised around 10.6% since 1991. Today, most of Brunei Chinese are permanent residents deprived of citizenship, with some notable exceptions.