This was in many respects the most important expedition to New England,
both as regards the numbers engaged, and the information and experience
derived. We have three different accounts of this expedition. The first
is from the somewhat lengthy Saga of Thorfinn Karlsefne, from the
_Arnæ-Magnæan Collection_; the second is from the Saga of Eric the Red,
being called "The Account of Thorfinn:" while the third is a briefer
relation from _Codex Flatöiensis_. The two first may be found in Rafn's
_Antiquitates Americanæ_, pp. 75-200; while the last is also given in
the same work, on pp. 55-64.
The Saga of Karlsefne is occupied largely at the beginning with accounts
of various matters connected with social life; yet, as such subjects are
not essential to the treatment of the subject, they are all omitted,
except the account of Thorfinn's marriage with the widow of Thorstein
Ericson.
The notes to the narrative of Leif's expedition, which precedes this in
the chronological order, supersede the necessity of treating a number of
important points suggested again in the present narrative.
It is believed that the principal manuscript of Thorstein Karlsefne is a
genuine autograph by one of his descendants, the celebrated Hauk
Erlander, the Governor or Lagman of Iceland, in 1295, who was also one
of the compilers of the _Landnama-bok_. Erlander was the ninth in
descent from Thorfinn. Torfæus, who supposed that this manuscript was
lost, knew it only through corrupt extracts in the collection of Biörn
Johnson.
There will be found a substantial agreement between the different
accounts, notwithstanding they are not the work of eye witnesses. The
differences are evidently such as would not appear in the case of three
writers who had banded together for the purpose of carrying out a
historical fraud. The Saga of Thorfinn was written in Iceland, while
that of Eric was composed in Greenland. The account from the _Flatö
Manuscript_, was, of course, written in the island which bears that
name, and is extremely brief, wanting many essential particulars.