The results of a large scale near -infrared survey of small sky
areas of the Milky Way containing trapezium-type star multiple
systems immersed in bright and dark nebulosities or southern
Herbig-Haro objects are presented. Photometric maps at wavelength 2.2
microns complemented with broad-band JHKL photometry of the majority
of the sources detected and of the star members of the clusters were
obtained. A number of randomly chosen comparison regions along the
galactic plane were also mapped and the results were also used, with
recent semi-empirical models, to determine the number of field stars
expected for the program surveys. In a number of regions, mainly
located in the centres of young open clusters, excesses of
infrared-bright stars were found and, in many cases, these were
interpreted as probable embedded stars. The infrared two-colour
diagrams were studied in detail in order to: (1) obtain the values of
the colour excess -ratios E(J- H) /E(H -K), E(H- K) /E(K -L) and
E(J- K) /E(K -L) which represent the general reddening law at these
wavelengths; and (2) differentiate between the numerous reddened
"normal" late -type stars from those stars with intrinsic infrared
excess. Low resolution two -micron spectra were also obtained for a
limited number of sources. A short description and analysis of the
results are given for each of the regions observed as well as for the
most interesting individual objects detected. Most infrared sources
found in the surroundings of Herbig-Haro objects appear not to be
associated with these emission /reflection nebulae
