to the court of Preste John in Shewa. which O. G. S. Crawford dates to Dawit's reign. Crawford considers this document the "first unambiguous account of Abyssinian geography which has survived; it certainly refers to the journey of a European, and the route followed can be identified pretty accurately."

A notable horseman, Dawit was killed when his horse lashed out and kicked him in the head. Scottish traveller James Bruce stated