  We report measurements of Xi and Xi-bar hyperon absolute yields as a function
of rapidity in 158 GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions. At midrapidity, dN/dy = 2.29 +/-
0.12 for Xi, and 0.52 +/- 0.05 for Xi-bar, leading to the ratio of Xi-bar/Xi =
0.23 +/- 0.03. Inverse slope parameters fitted to the measured transverse mass
spectra are of the order of 300 MeV near mid-rapidity. The estimated total
yield of Xi particles in Pb+Pb central interactions amounts to 7.4 +/- 1.0 per
collision. Comparison to Xi production in properly scaled p+p reactions at the
same energy reveals a dramatic enhancement (about one order of magnitude) of Xi
production in Pb+Pb central collisions over elementary hadron interactions.
