The chief was the main religious leader of the Xhosa. The Xhosa believe in a supreme being or creator who does not directly interfere in the lives of the people. Instead, the supreme being acts through the dead ancestors of the tribe. The prime religious role of the chief is to seek the advice of the ancestors during times of stress. Communication was usually through dreams. The ancestor could directly act and could both punish and reward the people directly. In general, misfortune was not directly blamed on the ancestor but upon magic and witchcraft; and, was enacted through familiars. These familiars were the evil-doers of magic at the will of a witch. A witch-doctor was a person who was used by the tribe to administer corrective action agains the action of these familiars. He was a diviner who worked through seances with the ancestor and attempted to explain both why and how misfortune occurred. The main familar was the Uthikoloshe. This was a hairy person of about knee height with one buttock and a long penis slung over his shoulder. Impundulu was the fire bird. Ichanti and Umamlambo were two snakes which could change shape. Isithunzela was a zombi who carried out most of the evil work of a witch.