Like the Ivatan and Itbayat much further north, the Waray are a hardy people who have adjusted well to the perpetual typhoons that are their lot. The population is about evenly distributed between Leyte and Samar, both rugged islands with narrow coasts and karst spines. The culture is basic Visayan. Among other things, the Waray produce fine palm frond mats in the south of Samar.